HOMESTEAD, FL – NOVEMBER 16: Brett Moffitt, driver of the #16 AISIN Group Toyota, crew chief Scott … More Zipadelli and team owner Shigeaki Hattori pose for a photo after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 16, 2018 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
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Shigeaki “Shige” Hattori, the Japanese-born racer who made the unlikely journey from open-wheel hopeful to championship-winning NASCAR team owner, was killed Saturday morning in a three-car crash on I-77 northbound in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He was 61.
The accident occurred around 9:15 a.m., just outside of Huntersville — a suburb north of Charlotte and very much in the heart of NASCAR country. According to a release from the Huntersville, NC, police Hattori was behind the wheel of a 2025 Toyota Crown when he crossed the center line and collided with oncoming traffic. The crash remains under investigation, but officials have stated that neither speed nor impairment are believed to have been factors.
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The news was confirmed Monday by Hattori Racing Enterprises, the team he founded and led for nearly two decades:
“We are heartbroken to confirm that Shigeaki ‘Shige’ Hattori was pronounced deceased on the morning of Saturday, April 5, in Huntersville, N.C., following a motor vehicle accident. He was 61.”
DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 18: Shigeaki Hattori, driver of the #9 Aisin/Aisin AW Toyota, is … More kissed by Deborah Renshaw (L), driver of the #8 Easycare Service Contracts Dodge and Kelly Sutton, driver of the Team Coaxone Chevrolet, prior to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Florida Dodge Dealers 250 on February 18, 2005 at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
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“Shige was known for his relentless drive, focus and competitive spirit. Team ownership through HRE and Hattori Motorsports had become both his passion and his life’s work. He had a unique gift to constantly inject a light-hearted attitude and one-of-a-kind sense of humor into his race teams that will never be forgotten. We’ll miss you dearly. Farewell, Shige.”
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NASCAR later issued a statement of its own:
“Shigeaki Hattori was a passionate racer and highly successful team owner, but beyond all his team’s statistics – which includes a NASCAR Truck Series championship – Shige was a genuine, beloved member of the garage who worked tirelessly to lift our sport and his people. We are deeply saddened by his tragic passing. NASCAR extends its thoughts and prayers to his family and many friends.”
In a sport that thrives on big personalities and bigger budgets, Hattori was the sort of figure who earned respect the old-fashioned way — through perseverance, hustle, and an unshakable belief that he belonged. And, against the odds, he did more than just belong. He won.
Born in Okayama, Japan, Hattori began his racing career on the open-wheel circuits of his home country before taking a giant leap across the Pacific to chase his dreams in America. He landed in the Indy Lights series in 1995, won twice, and made the climb to CART and the Indy Racing League. His résumé won’t set any speed records — 26 IRL starts, 28 laps led, a best finish of sixth at Texas — but it’s a testament to his tenacity. The man had guts.
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Shigeaki Hattori of Japan is helped out of his car after qualifying 19 May 2002 at the Indianapolis … More Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, IN. The 86th running of the 500 will be held on 26 May. AFP PHOTO/Ann MILLER CARR (Photo by – / AFP) (Photo credit should read -/AFP via Getty Images)
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In 2004 and 2005, he even tried his hand behind the wheel in NASCAR’s Truck Series — a fish-out-of-water moment for a Japanese driver in what was then a very Southern, very V8 world. But it was team ownership, not driving, where Hattori found his true calling.
In 2008, he founded Hattori Racing Enterprises (HRE), a plucky little outfit that over the next 15 years would become a staple of the NASCAR Truck Series garage. The team earned 14 wins in total — many with Brett Moffitt and Austin Hill — but their crowning achievement came in 2018, when Moffitt delivered Hattori his first and only NASCAR championship.
It was an underdog story so improbable it practically begged for a movie adaptation. A Japanese businessman with a Formula Nippon background, running Toyotas in NASCAR, taking on the juggernauts like ThorSport and Kyle Busch Motorsports — and winning. Not with flashy sponsors or million-dollar facilities, but with razor-sharp strategy, solid engineering, and one very determined team owner at the helm.
Hattori’s approach was all heart and hustle. He wasn’t just calling the shots from the hauler — he was hands-on, sleeves-up, and fluent in every facet of racing life. Those who worked with him speak not just of his racing mind, but his humor, his warmth, and a work ethic that bordered on legendary.
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DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 18: Shigeaki Hattori, driver of the Aisin/Aisin AW Toyota, poses for a … More photo prior to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Florida Dodge Dealers 250 on February 18, 2005 at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
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In many ways, Shige Hattori was the embodiment of the American dream — not because he was born here, but because he arrived with nothing and still managed to climb to the top of one of America’s toughest sports. He came to race, he stayed to build, and he left a legacy.
Motorsports, like life, doesn’t always reward the most deserving. But for once, in 2018, it did. Shige got his championship. And now, tragically, it’s time to say goodbye to a man who lived for racing — and, more than most, helped redefine what it meant to be a racer in America.
And now he’s gone. Taken not by a wall at Daytona or a mechanical failure at 200 mph, but by the same random, cruel chaos that takes too many lives on American roads every day.
The North Carolina Tar Heels have yet another new look to their roster heading into the 2026 season. Another offseason with 50 new additions, including roughly 30 true freshmen, makes the Tar Heels’ roster incredibly young, with a mix of veterans and transfers with inexperience on both sides of the ball.
As head coach Bill Belichick heads into his second season leading the program, the pressure is on to add more wins, and they’ll need some key players and transfers to step up and become major contributors early and throughout the season. Let’s look at some potential X-factors for North Carolina football heading into the summer break.
Sep 13, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Wisconsin wide receiver Trech Kekahuna (2) runs the ball and is pursued by Alabama defensive lineman James Smith (23) at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images | Gary Cosby-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
A dynamic pass-catcher from Wisconsin, Kekahuna has a chance to become a fascinating asset for offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. Kekahuna is incredibly versatile, with quickness, speed, and vision as a ball carrier, allowing him to create yards in space through traffic. His presence on the field will be one to watch this season, making him an important offensive factor.
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Defensive X-Factor — Jaylen Harvey, Edge Rusher
Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Jaylen Harvey (44) tackles Purdue Boilermakers running back Devin Mockobee (45) Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, during the NCAA football game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. Penn State Nittany Lions won 49-10. | Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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We’ve talked a lot about Harvey in recent weeks as a potential key contributor to the Tar Heels’ pass rush this season. The explosiveness and speed off the edge flashed at times during his time at Penn State, including against Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl this past season. If Harvey puts it together at Chapel Hill, he becomes a serious X-factor for Steve Belichick’s defense.
Offensive X-Factor — Jordan Washington, Tight End
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Sep 20, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns tight end Jordan Washington (84) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the first half against the Sam Houston Bearkats at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
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Jelani Thurman is the tight end I’m higher on in this room the most, but Washington’s size and athleticism make him an intriguing No. 2 option behind Thurman, who should be projected as the presumptive starter heading into the summer.
Washington has solid hands and movement skills to be a productive contributor, and if he puts it together, he quickly becomes an underrated aspect of the Tar Heels’ offense under Petrino.
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Defensive X-Factor — Coleman Bryson, Safety
Dec 29, 2022; Bronx, NY, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive back Coleman Bryson (16) is interviewed after being awarded the MVP trophy after defeating the Syracuse Orange the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The safety spot for North Carolina has a mixture of veteran presence and talent with Bryson and Greg Smith. The biggest question in this room is whether or not these two players reach their potential as backend playmakers in the Tar Heels’ secondary.
Bryson was the MVP of the Pinstripe Bowl with Minnesota a few years ago as a freshman. The talent and athleticism are there for him to become an impact contributor. If he puts it together, the veteran safety quickly becomes an X-factor in North Carolina’s secondary.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Drew Burress became Georgia Tech’s career leader in home runs, Alex Hernandez drove in four runs, and the Yellow Jackets defeated North Carolina 13-6 on Saturday to claim the ACC Baseball Championship for the 10th time.
The top-seeded and third-ranked Yellow Jackets won the tournament for the first time since 2014.
Burress led off the bottom of the third inning with his 58th career home run. The blast to left field set the tone for a five-run inning that also featured Hernandez’s three-run double.
North Carolina got two back in the fourth inning on a two-out single by Rom Kellis V and two more in the fifth on a home run by Owen Hull.
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Things got wild in the sixth inning when North Carolina scored an unearned run in the top half and Georgia Tech added three runs on three wild pitches by Matthew Matthijs in the bottom half, building an 11-6 lead.
Hernandez had three hits, four RBIs and a run scored and Burress had three hits, scored twice and drove in two runs for the Yellow Jackets (48-9). Vahn Lackey had three hits, scored twice and drove in a run.
Hull had two hits, scored twice and drove in three runs for the Tar Heels (45-11-1).
Georgia Tech used six pitchers, with the win going to Caden Gaudette (6-1), who shut down North Carolina’s fifth-inning rally.
North Carolina’s Folger Boaz (3-3) allowed six runs, all earned, in 2 2/3 innings.
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Second-seeded and No. 2 ranked North Carolina has nine ACC tournament championships and was the defending champion.
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The NCAA Tournament field will be announced on Monday. Both teams are tournament regulars, with North Carolina having made 37 previous appearances and Georgia Tech 36.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — If you’ve been “hiss-terically” startled by central North Carolina snakes slithering across sidewalks, curling up near creeks, or making surprise appearances in backyards this week, experts say you’re not imagining things.
Thanks to our months-long drought, snakes are becoming a lot more “viper-active” across the Triangle — outdoors as well as indoors this weekend at the Repticon expo in Raleigh.
Cold-blooded creatures were caught on camera up close and personal as people took pictures of the stars of the show at Repticon.
And for some people and the snakes themselves, it was a little too close for comfort.
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“They’re either going to fight or flight,” snake lover Emily Pantoja said. “So, if you’re too close and they feel threatened, they could strike or they’ll rattle their tail to warn you. But most of the time, snakes are going to give you so many warnings before they strike you.”
Large snake removed from Greensboro car (Hannah Sprague/WGHP)
Rattlers and boas and ball pythons — oh my!
“They are a huge benefit to us,” reptile expert and Repticon vendor Kyle Smith said. “They kill rodents, which takes down the pest population, the flea and tick population.”
And while snakes at the expo are safely confined, experts say many people across central North Carolina are seeing more of the slitherers out in the wild and in neighborhoods — not looking for trouble, but simply trying to survive during the ongoing drought.
A snake that emerged from under the hood of a moving car in North Carolina in 2021.
“Snakes are like you and I, they want a good water source, they kind of migrate out to try to find better water,” said CBS 17 Meteorologist Matthew Huddleston. “Also, their natural prey is attracted to water sources. So, they’re trying to find them, too. So, as things have stayed dry over the past month plus, they have slowly, surely migrated out. But as things get wetter once again, they’ll likely start going back to creeks, rivers, and things like that.”
Wildlife officials say copperheads, rat snakes, king snakes, and water snakes are among the species most commonly spotted in the Triangle this time of year.
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A snake was seen hugging the stonework of the exterior of the McDonald’s in the Heritage area of Wake Forest on a Saturday night in 2016
“We provide captive-bred quality reptiles,” Smith said.
Meanwhile, during Repticon at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds, Memorial Day Weekend, the massive, family-friendly traveling expo brings together show animals, including lizards, amphibians, and just about every reptile imaginable from around the world.
Repticon breeders, educators, and enthusiasts participate in expert seminars and host live encounters with the creatures for visitors to safely interact with them and perhaps even purchase one or more of the exotic pets.
“We do New Caledonian geckos, Australian species of geckos and skinks, ball pythons and hard-nosed snakes,” Smith added.
The event organizers hope Repticon helps people separate snake facts from snake fiction.
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Experts say most snakes in North Carolina are nonvenomous and avoid humans whenever possible.
“So, if you see a snake outside most of the time, just leave it alone. It’s going to go and do its own thing. It doesn’t want to interact with you. It doesn’t want to hurt you. It’s not going to chase you. It’s not going to bite you,” Smith explained. “They want to do their own thing and go the opposite direction of you.”
Still, wildlife officers recommend you watch your step, avoiding tall grass, and never attempting to handle unfamiliar snakes.
Because one wrong move could leave you in very serious condition.
“Usually that’s what happens with copperheads, which is why so many copperhead bites happen,” Pantoja pointed out.
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In North Carolina, it’s illegal to kill, harm, or harass certain snake species that are listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern.
Doing so can result in a class 2 misdemeanor, fines, and jail time.
Repticon continues on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Protected Snakes in NC
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The following snakes are fully protected under state law and cannot be harmed or relocated without an endangered species permit:
Non-Venomous: Southern Hognose Snake, Pine Snake, Carolina Water Snake, Outer Banks Kingsnake, and Smooth Green Snake.
Unprotected Snakes
Any snake species not included on the protected list is largely unprotected. While you can legally kill common non-venomous snakes (like garter or rat snakes) or unprotected venomous snakes (like copperheads) if they pose an imminent threat to human health or safety, wildlife officials strongly advise against it. Most snake bites happen when people attempt to kill or corner the animal.
