LAS VEGAS, Nev. – By all accounts Akinori Ogata’s 18th place finish last Saturday afternoon at New Hampshire Motor Speedway exceeded expectations for the Japanese racer’s second NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start.
Ogata piloted Mike Mittler’s No. 63 Chevrolet to a top-20 finish, bettering a 29th place finish last fall at Phoenix (Ariz.) International Speedway in his debut with Win-Tron Racing.
Last month MB Motorsports and Ogata jointly announced that the 42-year-old racer would compete in a minimum of three NCWTS races.
New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway and in two weeks at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway would serve as opening races on his docket with either full or partial support from ENOEOS.
However, in order to see Ogata make his restrictor plate debut, he first must receive his superspeedway license from NASCAR.
Included in that approval process is the clearance to race in the Oct. 24 fred’s 250 powered by Coca-Cola, he first must successful tackle Las Vegas, site of Saturday night’s NCWTS race.
The Rhino Linings 350 is Ogata’s intermediate track debut and despite some early apprehensions of getting comfortable with the track, the Kanagawa, Japan native settled in respectably and practiced 27th quickest overall.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
