Shige Hattori narrowly missed the field in his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut last year at Homestead driving for Pat Wall in the No. 01 Aisin-sponsored Toyota.  TruckSeries.com Photo

Germain/Arnold Racing announced today that it has expanded the team to a two-truck operation.  Shige Hattori will be the driver of the team’s second Toyota Tundra entry in the 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.  Hattori, a resident of the US for the past ten years, moves into NASCAR’s premier ranks after several years in IRL’s IndyCar Series.

“I'm very excited to have Shige join our team,” stated team co-owner, Bob Germain.  “He has a tremendous desire to succeed and I think working with Mike Hillman will make the transition to NASCAR racing easier for him.”

Shige Hattori will become the first full-time Japanese driver in NASCAR’s premier ranks. Shige stated, “I am excited to be racing in 2005 for Germain/Arnold Racing, a team that has proven it can win in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.  I look forward to learning from Mike Hillman, General Manager who has a successful history in all levels of NASCAR and has demonstrated he can put Toyota in the winner circle.  It will be a great opportunity for me to work along side my teammate Chad Chaffin.  Chad is a winner and can help me get acclimated to both the truck and the tracks. With the power of TRD (USA), and the support of my sponsors AISIN, AISIN AW and ADVICS, I will be competing in my first full season in NCTS after nearly 10 years in open wheel racing in the United States, and am I anxious to get started.” 

“Shige met with us back in October at our shop,” said Don Arnold, co-owner.  “At that time, he was talking with several potential teams in the NCTS and examining what it would take to run in this Series.  Everyone has worked very hard to make this happen. NASCAR is where Shige really wants to be and we’re very proud to have him on our team.  I think 2005 is going to be a very exciting year for everyone involved.”

Chad Chaffin, driver of the No. 30 Germain/Arnold Racing Toyota Tundra, was equally excited about his new teammate, “It’s always better when you have a two truck operation.  From testing on up, the team can learn a great deal more and at a much faster pace.  Shige has a very hands-on attitude, much like my own.  We both like to work alongside the crew to learn as much as we can about the equipment.  I think there is a lot we can learn from each other and with Toyota power, we have all the right equipment to get the job done.”

“The team is busy preparing trucks for this week’s test in Daytona,” said Mike Hillman, General Manager.  “Working with all the guys at TRD (USA) has really made the transition to a two-truck operation much easier.  I think this is going to be a very strong team with Shige and Chad.  All the guys on the crew, myself included, are really looking forward to getting out there and putting on a great show.”