NASCAR/IndyCar News: Shigeaki Hattori killed in traffic accident

Shigeaki “Shige” Hattori died in a 3-car accident on I-77 north of Charlotte on Saturday morning in North Carolina.

Hattori died on the morning of April 5, 2025 in a traffic collision on North Carolina Highway 73 near Huntersville, North Carolina. Preliminary investigation indicates that a 2025 Toyota Crown, piloted by Hattori, was traveling westbound when it crossed the centerline into the oncoming lane and collided head-on with a 2024 Lexus GX550.

At this time, investigators do not believe speed or impairment were contributing factors in the crash. The incident is currently under investigation by the Huntersville Police Department’s Traffic Safety Section. He was pronounced dead at the scene at the age of 61.

Hattori was a Japanese professional race car driver and team owner based in the United States. As a driver, he competed in the CART and IndyCar Series, and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He is not related to Naoki Hattori, whom he briefly raced against in CART.

As an owner, Hattori owned Hattori Racing Enterprises, which currently competes part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, and ARCA Menards Series West. HRE also has competed part-time in the Xfinity Series in the past.

The team has fielded cars for Johnny Sauter, Alex Bowman, Austin Hill, Max McLaughlin, David Garbo Jr., Lee Pulliam, Brett Moffitt, Sergio Pena, Ross Kenseth, Jesse Little,[2] and Ryan Truex. His race team won the 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship with Brett Moffitt.

As a driver, Hattori was not so good. Hattori raced for Bettenhausen in CART in 1999, but after he spun the car 18 times in 7 races, he had his CART competition license revoked at Laguna Seca by chief steward Wally Dallenbach Sr.

But his lack of skill behind the wheel was still good enough for the Indy Racing League (IRL). Hattori raced in the Indy Racing League from 2000 to 2003. His best IRL finish was a 6th at Texas Motor Speedway in 2002 and he finished 13th in IRL points in 2001 for Treadway-Vertex Cunningham Racing. He led a total of 28 laps in his 26 series starts.

Statement from Indy Speedway

Shigeaki Hattori, one of eight Japanese-born drivers to compete in the Indianapolis 500, died April 5 in a car accident in Huntersville, North Carolina. He was 61.

The native of Okayama in southern Japan, Hattori competed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway three times, earning a pair of starts. After serving as the first alternate to the 33-car field in 2001, he finished 20th in 2002 for Bradley Motorsports, completing 197 laps. The next year, he finished 30th driving for AJ Foyt Racing as the car’s fuel system failed.

Those two races in the “500” were among Hattori’s 34 career INDYCAR SERIES starts in a four-year span that ended in 2003. His best series finish came at Texas Motor Speedway when he finished sixth in 2002.

At 32, Hattori moved to the U.S. in 1995, first embarking on an opportunity in Indy Lights, now known as INDY NXT by Firestone. He won races at Homestead-Miami Speedway and World Wide Technology Raceway, starting in the top three on both occasions for Indy Regency Racing.

Hattori made his INDYCAR SERIES debut in 1999, making eight Champ Car World Series starts for Bettenhausen Motorsports. In 2000, he moved to the Indy Racing League, scoring four top-10 finishes in five races for Treadway Racing.

Hattori’s INDYCAR SERIES career featured rides with five teams using five different engine badging.

Hattori also had a significant career in NASCAR, driving and owning entries. He made 10 Truck Series starts before turning his attention to leading Hattori Racing Enterprises. The team fielded Johnny Sauter, Alex Bowman and Ross Chastain, among other notable drivers. Brett Moffitt won the 2018 Truck Series championship for the team.

Statement from Hattori Racing Enterprises

We are heartbroken to confirm that Shigeaki “Shige” Hattori was pronounced deceased on the morning of Saturday, April 5, in Huntersville, N.C., following a motor vehicle accident. He was 61.

A native of Okayama, Japan, Shige moved to the United States in the 1990s to pursue his dream of becoming an open-wheel race car driver. He won two INDY NXT by Firestone races and made two starts in the Indianapolis 500.

His passion for motorsports ultimately led him to NASCAR, where he competed in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) in 2004 and 2005. He transitioned to team ownership in 2008 and founded Hattori Racing Enterprises (HRE). He won 14 NCTS races as a team owner and reached the ultimate achievement by winning the 2018 series championship.

Shige was known for his relentless drive, focus and competitive spirit. Team ownership through HRE and Hattori Motorsports had become both his passion and his life’s work.

He had a unique gift to constantly inject a light-hearted attitude and one-of-a-kind sense of humor into his race teams that will never be forgotten.

We’ll miss you dearly. Farewell, Shige.

Statement on Shige Hattori from Tyler Gibbs, president, TRD, U.S.A.

“Everyone at Toyota and TRD, U.S.A. is saddened to learn of Shige Hattori’s tragic passing. Toyota’s history with Shige spans decades. Through his long run as a driver to his history-making championship success as an owner, Shige’s motivation and work ethic to achieve at the highest level never wavered. His endearing personality was infectious and unforgettable. We are thinking of his family and friends as they process this terrible loss.”

Statement from NASCAR

“Shigeaki Hattori was a passionate racer and highly successful team owner, but beyond all his team’s statistics – which includes a NASCAR Truck Series championship – Shige was a genuine, beloved member of the garage who worked tirelessly to lift our sport and his people. We are deeply saddened by his tragic passing. NASCAR extends its thoughts and prayers to his family and many friends.”