NASCAR Update: 50-Yo Japanese Star Teases Xfinity Series Return Amidst Sponsor Reveal

Akinori Ogata, a Japanese speedster in the world of professional stock car racing, has been making waves on the NASCAR scene. He’s been spotted behind the wheel of the #46 Toyota Tundra for G2G Racing in the Craftsman Truck Series, albeit on a part-time basis. In 2023, he also hopped into the driver’s seat part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, piloting the #53 Chevrolet Camaro for Emerling-Gase Motorsports.

Now, it looks like Ogata is ready to shift gears and rev up for a new chapter. Buzzing on X, he’s let slip that he’s inked a deal with a brand-new sponsor. The move is set to see him hitting the track in multiple Xfinity Series races, and it’s a good bet he’ll continue his journey with Emerling-Gase Motorsports.

Akinori Ogata hits the track with fresh sponsorship for NASCAR Xfinity and Roots

Ogata first made waves in 2009 when ENEOS came on board to sponsor his run in the All-American Series. Since then, the search for a sponsor to fuel his dreams continued until recently, when he struck a deal with YKK AP America. The partnership is set to propel him into multiple races across the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Roots, covering the ARCA, Whelen Modified Tour, and NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series.

Ogata teased an upcoming detailed announcement about this exciting venture. For now, he’s gearing up for a few rounds in the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series.

His tweet shared the enthusiasm: “I signed with @YKKAPAmerica to participate in multiple races in @NASCAR_Xfinity Series and @NASCARRoots as well. We will announce it shortly in more detail. I am so excited to look for a great winning season. I am planning to a few races in @NASCAR_Xfinity 2024 at this moment.”

Last year, Akinori Ogata took the wheel of the #53 Shinano Pneumatic Tools Chevrolet Camaro at Martinsville Speedway for the Dead On Tools 250 on October 28, sporting a special sticker to mark two decades of his racing career in the US since his move from Japan with dreams of NASCAR glory. Earlier in July 2023, he also made tracks at Atlanta Motor Speedway, crossing the finish line in 29th and 33rd place at Atlanta and Martinsville, respectively.

Martinsville marked Ogata’s second foray into NASCAR, having debuted in the series in 2018 at Phoenix with MBM Motorsports and finishing thirty-third. After a brief hiatus, he returned to the fray with single races for Jimmy Means and B.J. McLeod in Richmond and Martinsville. In 2022, he broadened his horizons with MBM, entering four races and making the cut for two, though both ended in early retirements.

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Ogata’s journey has also seen him dabble in the Craftsman Truck Series since 2014, notching a seventeenth-place finish at Atlanta in March for G2G Racing among his part-time appearances. Beyond the national spotlight, Ogata has made a name for himself at Hickory Motor Speedway in late model races, notching up four wins since 2022 and becoming the first Japanese driver to clinch a victory there.

Furthermore, as per his recent Facebook post, Ogata is also eying on making his Cup race debut in 2024.

Xfinity #53 Chevy is accelerating for the big leagues with eyes on the NASCAR Cup Series

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Having cut his teeth in the Craftsman Truck Series and dabbled in the K&N Pro Series East and Xfinity Series, Akinori Ogata has proven to be a valuable player on the track. Despite grinding it out in the sport for over a decade, climbing the ladder from grassroots to the bigger stages, Ogata’s yet to strap in for a Cup Series race—a milestone he’s itching to reach as the new season looms. Ahead of the commencement of the 2024 season, racing aficionado Joseph Srigley spotlighted Ogata’s aspirations in a Facebook post that’s got the NASCAR community talking.

Akinori Ogata Racing’s message was clear:  “Akinori Ogata has the potential to win races in the NASCAR series. With more sponsorship support, he can enter more NASCAR races and learn the handling of the cars better by gaining more experience and racing more often in the NASCAR events. He is looking to continue his success and race more in the NASCAR XFINITY SERIES and is currently looking for 2024 sponsors.”

Read More: 50-Yo Japanese Xfinity Star Announces NASCAR Cup Series Debut Chances Amidst Sponsorship Need

The post further read, “NASCAR fans’ exceptional passion and loyalty make sponsorship a great marketing tool for companies doing business in the United States. There are opportunities for more races in the XFINITY SERIES 2024 season, and he is hoping to secure funding for a full-time ride. Ogata’s team is also pursuing opportunities for a potential NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2024.”