Akinori Ogata Bio
Akinori Ogata (尾形 明紀, Ogata Akinori; born 14 August 1973) is a Japanese professional stock car racing driver from Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Japan. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 63 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for Akinori Performance. Over the course of his career, Ogata has also competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, building a reputation as a determined international competitor in American stock car racing.
Known for being the first Japanese driver to win at Hickory Motor Speedway, Ogata has spent more than two decades working his way through short tracks, regional series, and NASCAR’s national touring divisions. He has balanced limited part-time schedules with owner-driver efforts, often bringing his own sponsorship to the track.
Early Life and Background
Akinori Ogata was born on 14 August 1973 in Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Japan. Growing up in Japan, he developed an early interest in motorsports and began his racing career in motocross. He started motocross racing in Japan in 1987, building a strong foundation in competition by winning thirty feature races during that phase of his career.
As he matured as a competitor, Ogata shifted his focus from two wheels to four. He eventually moved to dirt track racing, including quarter midgets, and earned a victory at Twin Ring Motegi. These formative years in Japanese motorsports gave him the technical background and race craft that he would later apply in the United States.
Path to NASCAR
Ogata relocated his racing focus to the United States and, in 2003, began competing in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock division. He participated in races at Concord Motorsports Park, learning the rhythm of American short-track racing. In 2009, he signed a deal with ENEOS to sponsor his Whelen All-American Series entry, marking the company’s first NASCAR sponsorship.
That sponsorship opened the door to the next step in his career, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, where he debuted in 2012. He also entered the ARCA Menards Series East during this period, completing a gradual climb from local short tracks toward NASCAR’s national series. By 2014, Ogata was ready to make his presence felt on a larger stage.
Akinori Ogata Career
Early Career (2003–2012)
From 2003 through 2012, Ogata built his American resume in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock ranks, racing at Concord Motorsports Park and developing his short-track program. He made his K&N Pro Series East debut in 2012, driving Jennifer McDonald’s No. 49 Dodge at Gresham Motorsports Park, where he finished fifteenth. He competed in three additional events that season, switching to a Toyota and recording mixed results as he gained experience.
During this period, Ogata also entered the ARCA Menards Series East, with his first race coming in the 2012 Slack Auto Parts 150 at Jefferson. He continued running selected ARCA East events through 2014, posting a best series finish of 26th in 2013. These early appearances allowed him to refine his stock car skills and prepare for the top three NASCAR national series.
K&N Pro Series East and ARCA East (2012–2014)
Across his K&N Pro Series East career, Ogata ran a small number of events each season, often as an owner-driver. In 2013, he competed with Sherry Kuykendall’s No. 44 and Ronald Faison’s No. 39, running three of his events with the former team and missing the field at Dover International Speedway. The following year, he entered his own No. 56 Toyota with Dale Quarterley as crew chief, qualifying for three of five races but completing only the event at Iowa Speedway.
Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2014–2016)
On 5 November 2014, Win-Tron Racing announced that Ogata would make his Camping World Truck Series debut in the No. 35 Toyota at the Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway. He qualified 28th with a speed of 126.814 miles per hour and finished 29th after his rear gear broke on lap 45. In 2015, he partnered with MB Motorsports and ran three races, earning his first top twenty finish of 18th.
His only Truck Series start in 2016 came with MB Motorsports, but an early crash with Josh Wise in the UNOH 175 sent him home with a 31st-place result. Those three seasons established Ogata as a regular presence in the Truck Series garage and set the stage for his return to the series several years later.
Xfinity Series Debut (2018–2022)
On 31 October 2018, Ogata announced his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in the Whelen Trusted to Perform 200 at ISM Raceway, driving the No. 66 Toyota Camry for MBM Motorsports. His first Xfinity start began a long relationship with MBM that would continue in later seasons. In 2021, he made one start each in the No. 52 for Jimmy Means Racing and the No. 78 for B. J. McLeod Motorsports.
Ogata returned to MBM Motorsports in 2022 to drive the No. 13 at New Hampshire and Texas in September. His Xfinity Series career later included a 2024 season in which his best finish was 79th in 2018, with the Whelen Trusted to Perform 200 at Phoenix as his first race and the 2024 Ambetter Health 302 at Las Vegas as his most recent start.
Akinori Performance Era (2020–Present)
Ogata returned to the Craftsman Truck Series in July 2020, driving the No. 33 Toyota for Reaume Brothers Racing at Texas Motor Speedway. He remained with the team in 2021 and was involved in a very serious crash with Timmy Hill and Tanner Gray at Darlington. In 2022, he came back to drive the No. 43 for Reaume Brothers Racing at Darlington, continuing his owner-driver approach under his own Akinori Performance banner.
By 2025, Ogata was running his own team, Akinori Performance, fielding the No. 63 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. His Truck Series best finish remained 48th in 2015, and his most recent start in 2025 was the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville. Throughout this stretch, he has balanced a part-time schedule with the demands of team ownership, representing both Japan and Toyota in NASCAR’s national series.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ogata’s background in motocross and dirt track racing has given him a strong sense of car control and patience on short tracks and intermediate ovals. His experience as an owner-driver has also forced him to develop a working knowledge of car setup and race strategy, making him a more well-rounded competitor in the Truck Series garage.
Notable Races and Milestones
His biggest historical milestone is being the first Japanese driver to win at Hickory Motor Speedway, a track long associated with NASCAR’s Late Model Stock ranks. He has also taken pride in representing ENEOS as its first NASCAR-sponsored driver and in serving as a pathfinder for Japanese drivers competing in NASCAR’s top three national series.
Akinori Ogata Career Wins
Akinori Ogata has notched wins in short-track and regional competition, including his milestone victory at Hickory Motor Speedway, which made him the first Japanese driver ever to win there. In NASCAR’s three national series, he is recognized as a part-time competitor who has prioritized finishing races and building his program over chasing high win totals.
Craftsman Truck Series Highlights
Across his Craftsman Truck Series career, Ogata has run a part-time schedule and has yet to record a series victory. His best season points finish remains 48th in 2015, and his first race came in the 2014 Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway. His most recent Truck Series start was the 2025 Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville, where he continues to gain experience.
Xfinity Series Highlights
In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Ogata made his first start in 2018 at Phoenix and has run select events each season since. His best series points finish was 79th in 2018, and he has been a steady part-time presence with teams like MBM Motorsports, Jimmy Means Racing, and B. J. McLeod Motorsports.
Other Wins and Performances
Before reaching NASCAR, Ogata earned thirty feature race wins in Japanese motocross, a victory at Twin Ring Motegi in dirt track competition, and additional success in quarter midgets. In the ARCA Menards Series East, his best points finish was 26th in 2013, and he continued to develop his stock car skills through 2014.
Akinori Ogata Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Ogata’s parents and immediate family is limited. He grew up in Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Japan, and developed his love of racing in that environment, later moving into motocross and dirt track competition before relocating to the United States.
Personal Life
On 21 December 2016, a thief broke into Ogata’s garage, stealing his pickup truck as well as a Legends car belonging to his son, Ryo, with the total value of the items taken reported at around US $80,000. Beyond this incident, Ogata has kept much of his family life out of the public eye, focusing public attention instead on his racing program and his Akinori Performance team.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a continuation of Ogata’s part-time approach with his own Akinori Performance team. Running the No. 63 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, he has been classified 66th in the Craftsman Truck Series standings, reflecting the limited number of events he has entered. His most recent start came in the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville, where he continued to log laps and gather data for his small, independent operation.
As an owner-driver, Ogata faces the same challenges that many underfunded teams encounter, balancing budgets, travel, and preparation between races. His work with Toyota at the engine and chassis level, combined with his experience across the Truck, Xfinity, and K&N Pro Series East ranks, gives him a steady foundation to build from. The 2025 campaign is less about chasing a playoff berth and more about completing races, representing Japan, and laying the groundwork for future opportunities.
