Akinori Ogata
Ogata in 2011
Born (1973-08-14) 14 August 1973 (age 50)
Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama
AchievementsFirst Japanese driver to win at Hickory Motor Speedway
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
7 races run over 4 years
Car no., teamNo. 35 (Joey Gase Motorsports)
2022 position100th
Best finish79th (2018)
First race2018 Whelen Trusted to Perform 200 (Phoenix)
Last race2022 Andy's Frozen Custard 300 (Texas)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
14 races run over 9 years
2022 position83rd
Best finish48th (2015)
First race2014 Lucas Oil 150 (Phoenix)
Last race2022 Dead On Tools 200 (Darlington)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
Statistics current as of November 6, 2022.

Akinori Ogata (尾形 明紀, Ogata Akinori, born 14 August 1973) is a Japanese professional stock car racing driver. He competes part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 35 Ford Mustang for Joey Gase Motorsports. He has also competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in the past.

Racing career

Early years

Ogata started motocross racing in Japan in 1987,[1] winning 30 feature races. He eventually switched to dirt track racing, racing quarter midgets, and won at Twin Ring Motegi.[2] In 2003, Ogata started racing in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock, and has participated in races at Concord Motorsports Park. In 2009, Ogata signed a deal with ENEOS to sponsor his Whelen All-American Series ride, the company's first NASCAR sponsorship.[3]

K&N Pro Series

Ogata made his K&N Pro Series East debut in 2012 in Jennifer McDonald's No. 49 Dodge at Gresham Motorsports Park, finishing 15th. He competed in three more events with McDonald during the year, this time in a Toyota, crashing in two of them. In 2013, Ogata ran with Sherry Kuykendall's No. 44 and Ronald Faison's No. 39, three of which were with the former,[4] and failed to qualify in the No. 44 at Dover International Speedway. The following year, Ogata competed as an owner/driver in the No. 56 Toyota with Dale Quarterley as crew chief,[5] qualifying in three of five races,[6] but only finished the race at Iowa Speedway.[4]

Truck Series

On 5 November 2014, Win-Tron Racing announced Ogata would make his Camping World Truck Series debut with the team in the No. 35 Toyota, racing in the Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway;[1] this also marked his first career race at Phoenix.[7] After qualifying 28th with a lap time of 28.388 seconds and a speed of 126.814 miles per hour (204.087 km/h),[8] Ogata finished 29th after his rear gear broke on lap 45.[9] Partnering with MB Motorsports for 2015, Ogata ran three races, scoring his first top twenty finish (18th).[10] His only race in 2016 was with MB, but after a crash with Josh Wise early in the UNOH 175, Ogata finished 31st.[11]

Ogata returned to the Truck Series in July 2020, driving the No. 33 Toyota for Reaume Brothers Racing at Texas Motor Speedway.[12] He remained with the team for the 2021 season.[13] At Darlington, he was involved in a very serious crash with Timmy Hill and Tanner Gray. He returned in 2022 to drive the No. 43 for Reaume Brothers Racing at Darlington.

Xfinity Series

On 31 October 2018, Ogata announced his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut, which would come nearly two weeks later in the Whelen Trusted to Perform 200 at ISM Raceway, driving the No. 66 Toyota Camry for MBM Motorsports.[14]

In 2021, Ogata would make 1 start in both the No. 52 for Jimmy Means Racing and the No. 78 for B. J. McLeod Motorsports. In 2022, he would return to MBM to drive their No. 13 car in the races at New Hampshire and Texas in September.[15]

Personal life

On 21 December 2016, a thief broke into Ogata's garage, stealing his pickup truck as well as a Legends car for Ogata's son, Ryo. The value of the items taken was around US $80,000.[16]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Xfinity Series

NASCAR Xfinity Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 NXSC Pts Ref
2018 MBM Motorsports 66 Toyota DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL DOV CLT POC MCH IOW CHI DAY KEN NHA IOW GLN MOH BRI ROA DAR IND LVS RCH CLT DOV KAN TEX PHO
33 		HOM 79th 4 [17]
2021 Jimmy Means Racing 52 Chevy DAY DAY HOM LVS PHO ATL MAR TAL DAR DOV COA CLT MOH TEX NSH POC ROA ATL NHA GLN IND MCH DAY DAR RCH
34 		BRI LVS TAL CLT TEX KAN 98th 01 [18]
B. J. McLeod Motorsports 78 Toyota MAR
26 		PHO
2022 MBM Motorsports 13 Toyota DAY CAL LVS PHO ATL COA RCH MAR TAL DOV DAR TEX CLT POR NSH ROA ATL NHA
25 		POC IND MCH
DNQ 		GLN DAY DAR KAN
DNQ 		BRI TEX
35 		TAL CLT LVS HOM MAR PHO 100th 01 [19]
2023 Emerling-Gase Motorsports 53 Chevy DAY CAL LVS PHO ATL COA RCH MAR TAL DOV DAR CLT PIR SON NSH CSC ATL
29 		NHA POC ROA MCH IRC GLN DAY DAR KAN BRI TEX ROV LVS HOM MAR
33 		PHO 99th 01 [20]
2024 Joey Gase Motorsports 35 Ford DAY ATL LVS PHO COA RCH MAR TEX TAL DOV DAR CLT PIR SON IOW NHA NSH CSC POC IND MCH DAY DAR ATL GLN BRI KAN TAL ROV LVS HOM MAR PHO -* -*

Craftsman Truck Series

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 NCTC Pts Ref
2014 Win-Tron Racing 35 Toyota DAY MAR KAN CLT DOV TEX GTW KEN IOW ELD POC MCH BRI MSP CHI NHA LVS TAL MAR TEX PHO
29 		HOM 81st 15 [21]
2015 MB Motorsports 63 Chevy DAY ATL MAR KAN CLT DOV TEX GTW IOW KEN ELD POC MCH BRI MSP CHI NHA
18 		LVS
23 		TAL MAR TEX PHO
27 		HOM 48th 64 [22]
2016 DAY ATL MAR KAN DOV CLT TEX IOW GTW KEN ELD POC BRI MCH MSP CHI NHA
31 		LVS TAL MAR TEX PHO HOM 74th 2 [23]
2017 Beaver Motorsports 50 Chevy DAY ATL
30 		MAR KAN CLT DOV TEX GTW IOW KEN ELD POC MCH BRI MSP CHI NHA LVS TAL MAR TEX PHO HOM 74th 7 [24]
2018 MB Motorsports 63 Chevy DAY ATL
30 		LVS MAR DOV KAN CLT TEX IOW GTW CHI KEN ELD POC MCH BRI MSP LVS TAL MAR TEX PHO HOM 110th 01 [25]
2020 Reaume Brothers Racing 33 Toyota DAY LVS CLT ATL HOM POC KEN TEX
25 		KAN KAN MCH DAY DOV GTW DAR RCH BRI LVS TAL KAN TEX MAR PHO
30 		62nd 19 [26]
2021 DAY DAY LVS ATL
37 		BRI RCH KAN 76th 13 [27]
34 DAR
34 		COA
33 Chevy CLT
28 		TEX NSH POC KNX GLN GTW DAR BRI LVS TAL MAR PHO
2022 43 Toyota DAY LVS ATL COA MAR BRI DAR
36 		KAN TEX CLT GTW SON KNO NSH MOH POC IRP RCH KAN BRI TAL HOM PHO 83rd 1 [28]
2023 G2G Racing 46 Toyota DAY LVS ATL
17 		COA TEX BRI MAR KAN DAR NWS
Wth 		CLT GTW NSH MOH POC RCH IRP MLW KAN BRI TAL HOM PHO 59th 20 [29]

* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points

K&N Pro Series East

NASCAR K&N Pro Series East results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 NKNPSEC Pts Ref
2012 MacDonald Motorsports 49 Dodge BRI GRE RCH IOW BGS JFC
15 		34th 84 [30]
Toyota LGY
20 		CNB COL IOW
21 		NHA
36 		DOV GRE CAR
2013 Sherry Kuykendall 44 Toyota BRI GRE FIF RCH BGS
21 		IOW
22 		VIR GRE NHA
16 		DOV
DNQ 		RAL
21 		26th 128 [31]
Ronald Faison 39 Toyota IOW
20 		LGY COL
2014 Akinori Performance 56 Toyota NSM DAY BRI
DNQ 		GRE RCH
31 		IOW BGS FIF
20 		LGY NHA
DNQ 		COL IOW
22 		GLN VIR GRE DOV 40th 65 [32]

References

  1. ^ a b "Akinori Ogata To Make NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Debut With Win-Tron Racing At Phoenix". Catchfence. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  2. ^ "Akinori,ENEOS join MB Motorsports in Truck race". Akinori Ogata. 18 September 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  3. ^ "NASCAR - AKINORI OGATA". Nippon Oil. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  4. ^ a b "NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results (races)". Racing-Reference. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  5. ^ "Akinori Ogata Sets Sights On Pensacola's Five Flags Speedway". Catchfence. 12 June 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  6. ^ "NASCAR K&N Pro Series East DNQs or WDs". Racing-Reference. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  7. ^ "Akinori Ogata, No. 35 ENEOS Toyota Tundra, Lucas Oil 150 Fast Facts". Win-Tron Racing. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  8. ^ "2014 Lucas Oil 150 qualifying results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  9. ^ "2014 Lucas Oil 150". Racing-Reference. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  10. ^ "Akinori Ogata 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results - Racing-Reference.info". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2016-12-23.
  11. ^ "Trucks Begin 'The Chase' at Loudon". The Daily Voice. Retrieved 2016-12-23.
  12. ^ Srigley, Joseph (13 July 2020). "Akinori Ogata Returns to NASCAR Competition at Texas Driving for Reaume Brothers Racing". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  13. ^ "Akinori Ogata returns to Reaume Brothers Racing for Atlanta Truck race". Jayski's Silly Season Site. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Akinori Ogata to make XFINITY debut at Phoenix". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  15. ^ "Akinori Ogata Running 2 Xfinity Races for MBM Motorsports". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  16. ^ FOX. "NASCAR driver's vehicle, equipment worth over $80K stolen". WJZY. Retrieved 2016-12-23.
  17. ^ "Akinori Ogata – 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  18. ^ "Akinori Ogata – 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  19. ^ "Akinori Ogata – 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  20. ^ "Akinori Ogata – 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  21. ^ "Akinori Ogata – 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  22. ^ "Akinori Ogata – 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  23. ^ "Akinori Ogata – 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  24. ^ "Akinori Ogata – 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  25. ^ "Akinori Ogata – 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  26. ^ "Akinori Ogata – 2020 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  27. ^ "Akinori Ogata – 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  28. ^ "Akinori Ogata – 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  29. ^ "Akinori Ogata – 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  30. ^ "Akinori Ogata – 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  31. ^ "Akinori Ogata – 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  32. ^ "Akinori Ogata – 2014 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 11 November 2020.

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