NASCAR to Showcase at Fuji Speedway During Super Taikyu Series Finale
On November 16, six NASCAR vehicles will participate in a demonstration run at Fuji Speedway, coinciding with the final round of the Super Taikyu Series. Among the highlights is the 2023 Le Mans Garage 56 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, driven by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson.
Johnson will be behind the wheel of the iconic No. 24 Garage 56 Camaro, a vehicle he co-drove during the 2023 Le Mans 24 Hours alongside Jenson Button and Mike Rockenfeller. Joining him is Japanese racing star Kamui Kobayashi in the No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota Camry XSE, a car he previously drove at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, marking his debut as the second Japanese-born driver in NASCAR Cup Series history.
John Hunter Nemechek, a second-year driver for Legacy Motor Club, will also compete in his No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE, representing a team majority owned by Johnson. The NASCAR lineup is completed with three entries from the ARCA Menards Series: Takuma Koga’s No. 12 Toyota Camry, and two additional cars driven by Toyota factory pilots Toshiki Oyu and Kazuto Kotaka. Oyu, a Super Formula race winner, will drive a No. 52 Chevrolet SS, while Kotaka will be in a No. 9 Ford Mustang.
The demo vehicles will be on display in the Fuji Speedway event square and paddock on the preceding Friday and Saturday, before the Super Taikyu Series’ four-hour endurance race.
In a significant move, the Super Taikyu Series is launching a new class for American vehicles, dubbed “ST-USA.” Two entries have been confirmed: Bingo Sports’ Callaway Corvette C7 GT3-R, which has competed in international events, and TechSport Racing’s entry from the IMSA Mustang Challenge series. Devin Anderson, runner-up in the 2025 Mustang Challenge, will race the No. 249 Ford Mustang Dark Horse R alongside three-time Le Mans champion Kazuki Nakajima and second-generation driver Giuliano Alesi. The No. 9 Callaway Corvette will be driven by Bingo Sports owner Shinji Takei and Toyota’s Ukyo Sasahara, with a third driver to be announced.
This initiative, spearheaded by Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda, aims to bolster the appeal of American-made vehicles in the Super Taikyu Series and enhance international outreach. The Super Taikyu Mirai Organization (STMO) emphasized the importance of this initiative in attracting new spectators and teams, thereby fostering collaboration between Japanese and American automotive industries.
This exhibition marks a notable step toward integrating American racing culture into Japanese motorsports, reflecting changing dynamics in the global racing landscape.
