Akinori Ogata – A Japanese NASCAR Fairytale

The NASCAR Championships are pretty much popular in the United States, but they have gained a lot of popularity worldwide throughout the years. The most successful non-US-born driver is Marcos Ambrose, winning twice a NASCAR Cup Series race and five times a NASCAR Xfinity Series race. There are many drivers who have tried their luck over the years, but just a few have been determined enough to reach their goals.

Akinori Ogata is a precise example of such a character who never gave up despite the difficulties. The Japanese came to the United States back in 2003 when he started pursuing a stock car racing career. He raced in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock in the beginning of his professional days in the new country. However, he was struggling to compete with the much younger and up-and-coming competition.

The 48-year-old driver made history by winning his first victory in the United States on April 9th at Hickory Motor Speedway as a part of the track’s Limited Late Model division. His sheer determination and hard work paid off in the end after having a long career on American soil.