NASCAR DRIVER’S SILVER LINING
This past Monday in North Carolina, someone stole $80,000 worth of equipment including a pick-up truck and trailer with Akinori Ogata’s son’s race car inside. The part-time driver in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, came to America with literally a racing dream.
“It’s very sad. I came here. Six years ago from Japan with nothing. No equipment, no friends,” Ogata said. He told FOX 46 reporter Brett Baldeck that he wanted to pass along his racing aspirations to his son, so he purchased him a Legends car. “That was gone in just a few minutes. We cannot race now, so we are very disappointed,” Ogata said. That’s where K1 RaceGear stepped in. “We heard the unfortunate story and reached out to Ogata right away,” JR Twedt said. K1 is donating a Champ Nomex fire suit and gloves to support the teams efforts in replacing the stolen items. There is also talks with working with the Akinori Ogata Foundation on hosting a charity karting event sometime during Charlotte race week at K1 Speed Concord. More details will be announced when the event is scheduled.
If you know the whereabouts of the stolen items, please call the Mooresville Police at 704-664-3311. Trailer tag number AD-57361.
