NASCAR to Showcase at Fuji Speedway Ahead of Super Taikyu Finale
On November 16, six NASCAR stock cars are set to make a demonstration run at Fuji Speedway prior to the Super Taikyu Series finale. The event features the 2023 Le Mans Garage 56 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, piloted by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, who previously drove the car alongside Jenson Button and Mike Rockenfeller at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Joining Johnson will be Japanese racing icon Kamui Kobayashi, who will take the wheel of the #67 23XI Racing Toyota Camry XSE. This car marks Kobayashi’s return to NASCAR after his debut at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course earlier this year, making him one of the few Japanese drivers to compete at this level.
In addition, the lineup includes second-year driver John Hunter Nemechek in his #42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota Camry XSE, as well as three cars from the ARCA Menards Series: Takuma Koga’s #12 Fast Track Racing Toyota Camry, and entries driven by Toyota factory drivers Toshiki Oyu and Kazuto Kotaka.
These NASCAR vehicles will be on display at Fuji Speedway’s event square and paddock on Friday and Saturday leading up to the Super Taikyu’s four-hour race.
Significantly, the Super Taikyu Series will launch a new “ST-USA” class, catering to American vehicles. This category will feature the Bingo Sports Callaway Corvette C7 GT3-R and a TechSport Racing car from the IMSA Mustang Challenge series, marking a pivotal moment in the series’ evolution.
Bingo Sports owner Shinji Takei and Toyota SUPER GT driver Ukyo Sasahara will compete in the Callaway Corvette, which has been active in various endurance racing events.
Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda, who also participates in the Super Taikyu Series under the alias “Morizo,” is a key proponent behind these initiatives. In a recent press release, the Super Taikyu Mirai Organization (STMO) emphasized the importance of integrating American-made vehicles into the series to attract new audiences and teams, thereby furthering international collaboration within motorsports.
This showcase underscores the growing intersection between the American and Japanese automotive racing industries, heralding a new chapter for the Super Taikyu Series in its push for global engagement and audience expansion.
