Kenji Momota
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
former racing driver.
Momota drove in the All Japan Touring Car Championship in the mid to late 1980s. In 1990 he competed in the first two American Racing Series (later Indy Lights) races of the season for TEAMKAR International, finishing 17th and 20th. He attempted to qualify for the 1992 Indianapolis 500
in a car fielded by TEAMKAR but was bumped from the field on the final day of qualifying by Jimmy Vasser
. In 1995 he competed in a NASCAR
SuperTruck (later the Camping World Truck Series) race at Phoenix International Raceway
driving for Randy MacDonald
, becoming the first Japanese NASCAR driver. He crashed 25 laps in and was credited with 37th place.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
former racing driver.
Momota drove in the All Japan Touring Car Championship in the mid to late 1980s. In 1990 he competed in the first two American Racing Series (later Indy Lights) races of the season for TEAMKAR International, finishing 17th and 20th. He attempted to qualify for the 1992 Indianapolis 500
1992 Indianapolis 500
The 76th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 24, 1992. The race is famous for the fierce battle in the closing laps, as race winner Al Unser, Jr...
in a car fielded by TEAMKAR but was bumped from the field on the final day of qualifying by Jimmy Vasser
Jimmy Vasser
Jimmy Vasser is a retired American racing driver and current co-owner of KV Racing Technology. Vasser won the 1996 IndyCar season championship with Chip Ganassi Racing, and scored ten victories in the series...
. In 1995 he competed in a NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
SuperTruck (later the Camping World Truck Series) race at Phoenix International Raceway
Phoenix International Raceway
Phoenix International Raceway, also known as PIR, is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. The track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the Indycar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series...
driving for Randy MacDonald
Randy MacDonald
Randy MacDonald , is a driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, as well as the car owner of the full-time #81 MacDonald Motorsports car in the Nationwide Series. He is a veteran of all three major NASCAR Series...
, becoming the first Japanese NASCAR driver. He crashed 25 laps in and was credited with 37th place.