MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Hattori Racing Enterprises will once again field an entry in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this year.
Team owner Shige Hattori will enter the No. 61 AISIN Group Toyota Supra in the series opener at Daytona Int’l Speedway on Feb. 15. Austin Hill, a four-time winner for HRE in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoor Truck Series last year, will be behind the wheel at Daytona as the organization plans to enter select events this season.
“We’re excited to have another chance to move into the Xfinity Series with AISIN Group and Toyota Tsusho,” Hattori said. “The Supra is a famous brand and model in Japan, and we want to be a part of it here in the U.S. and continue to grow our team. AISIN Group has helped our team for many years and we hope to get them into victory lane again with Austin.”
The defending Truck Series winner at Daytona will kick off his season with a double-duty weekend at Daytona Int’l Speedway while also driving the No. 16 Toyota Tundra on Feb. 14 in the Truck Series opener. Hill will attempt to make his second Xfinity Series start after his series debut resulted in a ninth-place finish last season at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“It’ll be fun for sure doing double duty,” Hill said. “It was great to get AISIN Group to victory lane last year on the truck side at Michigan and hopefully we can do it again in a Toyota Supra. They’ve been such a big part of HRE for a long time and I’m excited to get a chance to be back in the Xfinity Series with their support.”
Additional NASCAR Xfinity Series events for the team will be announced at a later date.