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John Hunter Nemechek, Kamui Kobayashi put on NASCAR burnout show for Japanese fans

JHby: Jonathan Howard5 hours agoJondean25
John Hunter Nemechek Phoenix
Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The NASCAR exhibition in Japan ended with a big burnout show from John Hunter Nemechek and Kamui Kobayashi. Jimmie Johnson briefly lit up the tires on the Garage 56 car, but couldn’t burn it down like the 42 and 67 were able to. You know, gotta protect the drivable museum piece.

Legacy Motor Club and 23XI Racing teamed up to bring a little NASCAR to Japan again. At Fuji Speedway, Japanese racing fans were able to see two Next Gen cars, three ARCA cars, and the Garage 56 Chevy in the garage. Jimmi Johnson, John Hunter Nemechek, Kamui Kobayashi, and Takuma Koga represented NASCAR and ARCA well.

Of course, two Japanese drivers were able to get behind the wheel of the other two ARCA cars. Six American stock cars on the track at Fuji at the same time. Oyu Toshiki and Kotaka Kazuto were the two Japanese drivers who participated in the event.

After the exhibition of the NASCAR and ARCA cars, there was another show. John Hunter Nemechek and Kamui Kobayashi showed the Japanese fans how Americans celebrate. They blew the tires off their cars and had two clouds of smoke on the front straightaway.

Like I said, Jimmie Johnson lit the tires up, but he had to be a little more careful. The fans in attendance seemed to love it, though.

America and Japan have been exchanging culture for years. The overlap in motorsports culture is of particular interest. It is something NASCAR is trying to tap into. All sports are becoming more international, even something as American as the NFL. So, why not make inroads in Japan?

John Hunter Nemechek helping cultural exchange

When we talk about the future of NASCAR and American motorsports, it’s going to be a lot more international. NASCAR has invested a lot in international series in Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Europe. Those are eventually going to be pipelines to the Cup Series. At least, in an ideal world.

Helio Meza is a driver from Mexico who everyone should be watching. Not yet 18, Meza won in his Trans Am TA2 debut at COTA. He has also impressed in the NASCAR Challenge Series in Mexico. But could we see Japan open up as a pipeline for stock car racing?

Kamui Kobayashi had a couple of runs in the Cup Series. He didn’t do terribly in the No. 67 for 23XI Racing, but circumstances led him not to finish the best. His run at COTA in 2024 was probably where he showed the most pace and potential. But there are a ton of road course racers from Japan who might have luck in the Next Gen car in one-off starts.

John Hunter Nemechek, Jimmie Johnson, Kamui Kobayashi, and Takuma Koga did a great job helping make this event happen. 23XI Racing and Legacy Motor Club are thinking internationally. It would be very exciting to see more Toyota drivers and Japanese drivers in general come over to NASCAR and give it a try.