Akinori Ogata, a perennial part-time competitor in NASCAR’s National Series, will compete in at least four NASCAR Xfinity Series events with Joey Gase Motorsports in 2024, the driver officially announced on Thursday.
A native of Kanagawa, Japan, Ogata is scheduled to make his 2024 Xfinity Series debut at Martinsville Speedway (April 6), before also competing in events at Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 25), Daytona International Speedway (August 23), and Las Vegas Motor Speedway (October 19).
Additional details, including the entry that Ogata will pilot in those four events, were not announced on Thursday. Kyowa-Eidemiller Precision Machining and YKK AP America will continue their support of Ogata throughout the 2024 season.
“I am excited to compete in all of my races, but YKK AP America and Joey Gase gave me an opportunity to race at Daytona in August,” said Ogata. “Daytona is one of my dream tracks.”
Ogata’s racing career began in Japan, running motocross when he was 14 years old. In 2003, the now-50-year-old driver made his first start at Hickory Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock.
In 2014, Ogata debuted in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Phoenix Raceway, the same facility in which he made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut four years later.
“I really enjoyed and had good experience in races with the superspeedway program at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2023 in the Xfinity and Truck Series,” said Ogata. “I can’t wait for my coming race season!”
While Ogata already has a four-race program solidified, the driver is looking to add more NASCAR National Series events to his racing program in 2024.
In seven NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, Ogata has recorded a career-best result of 25th, coming at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2022. Last season, while driving for G2G Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Ogata earned a career-best finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway, finishing 17th in the No. 46 Kyowa-Eidemiller Precision Toyota Tundra.
