At 47, Ogata Won’t Give Up on Being First Japanese-Born Driver To Break a NASCAR Barrier
Akinori Ogata, driver of the #33 Toyota, stands on the grid prior to the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Vankor 350 at Texas Motor Speedway, in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 18, 2020. Chris Graythen/Getty Images
MOORESVILLE, N.C.—Akinori Ogata doesn’t always understand his spotter, which at times makes driving his truck at 180 miles per hour difficult. Quick communication on the team radio is essential to competitive racing.
