Latest news with #Indiapolis500
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NASCAR team owner and champion killed in Huntersville crash: Police
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — 'We'll miss you dearly,' Hattori Racing posted on X after the passing of its owner, 61-year-old Shigeaki 'Shige' Hattori, who was identified as the victim in a deadly crash on Sunday. Advertisement According to the Huntersville Police Department, Hattori, of Mooresville, was driving a 2025 Toyota Crown west on NC Hwy 73 around 9:15 a.m. He reportedly crossed the centerline and hit a 2024 Lexus GX550. Hattori was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Lexus was taken to a local medical center with non-life-threatening injuries. PREVIOUS: One person killed, another seriously hurt after crash in Huntersville The owner of Hattori Racing Enterprises, Hattori moved to the United States in the 1990s from Okayama, Japan, 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 Indiapolis 500. Advertisement '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,' the team said. Hattori competed in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2004 and 2005, after which he transitioned to owning and founding Hattori Racing Enterprises in 2008. He won 14 NCTS races as a team owner and reached the 'ultimate achievement' by winning the 2018 series championship. In a statement to Queen City News, NASCAR said, '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.' Investigators don't believe speed or impairment were factors in the crash, and the incident remains under investigation. Advertisement Anyone with information is asked to contact Sergeant Bryan Gantt at 704-464-5371. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
As the Next Generation of Deegans Continue to Make Their Marks, IMS Hosts IndyNXT and SMX Meet Up
Fans of two-time SMX 250 class champion Haiden Deegan might now all know that his older sister made the switch to IndyNXT after a stint in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Fans of Hailie Deegan may not know her little brother is absolutely dominating his first few seasons of SuperMotocross. Still, fans of the famous racing family have learned to expect nothing less. This weekend, ahead of the first Supercross East West Showdown in Indianapolis, Indiana, Hailie and Haiden joined their parents at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to run their IndyNXT car and SX Yamaha 25o side by side on the famed Brickyard 79 days before the 109th running of the Indiapolis 500. Hailie joined her family fresh off her IndyNXT debut at St. Petersburg, where she finished 14th out of 21 starters. Her debut in open-wheel comes after a harsh rookie season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The two series met at IMS with the older siblings of the Deegan family and their parents, Brian and Marissa, to take iconic shots of the two racing next to each other as they paced the frontstretch of the speedway. Fans of the father, Brian Deegan, and the Metal Mulisha he founded know of his two eldest children's success as the proud father has helped showcase and market it since their early years. Haiden, who won Supercross's East Coast 250 class last year, is looking to pair it with a West Coast championship this year before potentially moving up to the premier 450 class. The day after celebrating his and his family's accomplishments at IMS, Haiden and the complete SX 250 class met for the first East / West showdown of the season. Haiden brought home his fifth consecutive podium Saturday night in Indianapolis. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
