Akinori Ogata, No. 35 ENEOS Toyota Tundra, Lucas Oil 150 Fast Facts

Topics:  Akinori Ogata, Lucas Oil 150

Chris Knight
Knight Motorsports Management
November 7, 2014

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race No. 21, Lucas Oil 150, Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway, Avondale, Arizona

Race Information: Event: Lucas Oil 150, Friday, November 7 at 6:30 p.m. Local Time Track: Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway Qualifying: Friday, November 7 at 2:45 p.m. Local Time Track Length: 1.0-mile paved oval.

Welcome To The Team: Earlier this week, Win-Tron Racing announced that current NASCAR K&N Pro Series East competitor Akinori Ogata will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in Friday night’s Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway driving the No. 35 ENEOS Toyota Tundra.

About ENEOS: ENEOS is the corporate brand name of JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation, the largest oil company in Japan. ENEOS brand motor oil is developed to exceed the highest standards of the automotive industry.

ENEOS product ranges from motor oil that offers optimal performance protection under the most extreme temperature variations, to ecologically friendly motor oil that provides superior fuel saving capacity. For more information please visit eneos.us.

First Laps Turned: Ogata successful completed two rounds of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice on Thursday at Phoenix International Raceway. The team utilized the two sessions to get their driver comfortable with the No. 35 ENEOS Toyota Tundra.

Busy Week: Before Ogata arrived in Phoenix on Wednesday night, the Kanagawa, Japan native spent a few days in Las Vegas, Nevada with marketing partner ENEOS at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) trade show. Ogata joined fellow NASCAR driver Kyle Larson at ENEOS’ booth, where they greeted visitors and signed autographs.

Locked In: Akinori Ogata is guaranteed to make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut in Friday night’s Lucas Oil 150, as Win-Tron Racing has competed in every race this season. Currently, the team sits 18th in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series owner standings, well above the cutoff point of 25th.

Chassis Intel: Veteran crew chief Mark Rette, has elected to bring Win-Tron Racing chassis number 216 to the 1.0-mile track this weekend. This truck most recently ran at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in August, but additionally scored a top-10 finish earlier in the season with another driver at Kansas Speedway. The No. 35 ENEOS Toyota Tundra will be powered by pro motor engineering (PME).

Win-Tron Racing, Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway Pre-Race Quotes: Akinori Ogata, No. 35 ENEOS Toyota Tundra:

On His Phoenix Outlook: “I’m very thankful and appreciative for this opportunity to make my NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Phoenix with Win-Tron Racing. This is the biggest race of my life, but I’m looking forward to having a good race and see the checkered flag.”

On Thursday’s Practice: “I learned a lot. The team has brought me a good truck, but there’s still more room for improvement. I felt comfortable inside the No. 35 ENEOS Toyota Tundra, but we were a little too tight. The team will make adjustments and I’m sure we’ll be fine for qualifying and the race.”

Win-Tron Racing, Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway Pre-Race Quotes: Nate Thiesse, owner of the No. 35 ENEOS Toyota Tundra:

On Akinori Ogata Joining The Team: “We’re happy to welcome Akinori and ENEOS to the Win-Tron Racing family. It’s not easy to make the jump from the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, but Akinori has done extremely well with the transition. We look forward to having him drive for the team on Friday night.”

On Team’s Outlook For Phoenix This Weekend: “Everyone wants to finish the race. We want Akinori to get as many laps as possible, but also see the checkered flag. He accelerated patience in practice on Thursday and that mentality will be the key to our success in the Lucas Oil 150.”

PRIOR RESULTS:

Akinori Ogata Phoenix International Raceway Prior Performance Record:

Akinori Ogata has no prior starts at Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway

The Lucas Oil 150 (150 miles / 150 laps) is the 21st of 22 races on the 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1, MRN Radio and SiriusXM Satellite Radio Channel 90 on Friday night, November 7 beginning at 8:30 p.m. The green flag is scheduled to drop at approximately 8:48 p.m. All times Eastern.

Fast Links:

Driver: Akinori Ogata on the web: AkinoriOgata.com or follow him on Twitter @akinoriogata.

Team: Win-Tron Racing on the web: Win-TronRacing.com or follow them on Twitter @WinTronRacing.

Marketing Partner: ENEOS on the web: ENEOS.us

Sanction: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series: NASCAR.com.

About Win-Tron Racing:

Located in Mooresville, North Carolina, Win-Tron Racing (Win-TronRacing.com / @WinTronRacing) is the home of one the most potent ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards single-car operations. Owned by former racers Kevin Cywinski and Nate Thiesse, the team since has acquired the assets of County Joe Racing, becoming a favorable fixture on the circuit. Since Win-Tron Racing’s inception in 2007, the team has hosted a variety of drivers including leading drivers James Buescher, Blake Bjorklund, Justin Marks, Matt Merrell and Brandon McReynolds to their first career ARCA victories. In 2014, the team will begin its eighth year of competition with a full-time presence in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

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