Legacy Motor Club is set to ignite excitement at Fuji Speedway as NASCAR stages a demonstration alongside the Super Taikyu Series finale on November 15 and 16, bringing the high-octane world of American stock cars to Japan. The event marks a significant milestone, leveraging the Legacy Motor Club NASCAR Fuji partnership to introduce iconic drivers such as Jimmie Johnson, John Hunter Nemechek, and Kamui Kobayashi to Japanese racing fans.
NASCAR Joins Forces with Super Taikyu Series at Fuji
Fuji Speedway revealed that six NASCAR machines will participate in demonstration runs during the highly anticipated Super Taikyu Series final round. The lineup includes the noteworthy Garage 56 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, driven by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson, who previously piloted the same car at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans. The exhibition will see Johnson sharing the spotlight with John Hunter Nemechek, set to drive the No. 42 NASCAR Cup car, and Kamui Kobayashi, a two-time WEC champion and established NASCAR Cup Series competitor, handling the No. 67 Toyota Camry for 23XI Racing.
The blend of vehicles showcases the diversity and intensity of NASCAR competition. In addition to the flagship Camaro ZL1 and two Cup Series stock cars, fans will witness three ARCA cars: a Ford Mustang, another Toyota Camry, and a Chevrolet SS. Notable local talents are slated to participate, including Takuma Koga in the Toyota Camry, Toshiki Oyu behind the wheel of the No. 52 Chevrolet SS, and Kazuto Kotaka powering the No. 9 Ford Mustang.
Drivers Bring Diverse Expertise to Fuji Speedway
Kamui Kobayashi, returning to a stock car after his previous NASCAR appearances with 23XI Racing in the No. 50 at Circuit of the Americas and the No. 67 Toyota Camry at the Indianapolis Road Course, will tap into his deep expertise of Fuji Speedway — notably the venue where he captured his first World Endurance Championship (WEC) overall win at the 2016 6 Hours of Fuji. Kobayashi finished 33rd in the last NASCAR race at Indianapolis before the event’s traditional oval returned to the calendar.
John Hunter Nemechek, the sole full-time NASCAR Cup driver joining the Fuji showcase, is eager to present American Stock car racing to a new audience, marking his inaugural trip to Japan for the event. In his discussion with Road & Track, he said:
“I’m super excited; it’s going to be a great opportunity to showcase our sport with some great talent behind the wheel,”
John Hunter Nemechek, NASCAR Cup Series driver.
“Being able to go over there and have the opportunity from Toyota to showcase what we do in front of a Japan crowd at Mount Fuji, I’m super excited. When I got the call about it, I was smiling ear-to-ear. I’m still smiling ear-to-ear about it.”
— John Hunter Nemechek, NASCAR Cup Series driver
The Significance of NASCAR’s International Exhibition
The Legacy Motor Club NASCAR Fuji exhibition represents a rare fusion of cultures, as leading NASCAR personalities like Jimmie Johnson, Kamui Kobayashi, and John Hunter Nemechek collaborate with Japanese talent at an iconic motorsports destination. These demonstration runs will not only highlight the performance of stock cars, but also offer local spectators a firsthand experience of the rigor and excitement that define American racing.
As NASCAR continues to build international bridges, this event could signal growing opportunities for U.S. racing series abroad, heightened by the involvement of champions and marquee teams like 23XI Racing and Garage 56. The presence of both seasoned veterans and rising drivers ensures fans will witness a blend of skill, ambition, and cultural exchange on the track at Fuji Speedway, energizing the motorsports community in Japan and beyond.
