NASCAR’s global ambition is moving fast, and Japan is the latest to feel the thrill. Japan’s one of the most famous racetracks, Fuji Speedway, is gearing up for a rare American invasion. Seven-time Cup Series champ Jimmie Johnson, fresh after talking about bridging racing worlds on his podcast, is now leading a crew of top talents to show some speed in the land of the rising sun.

This isn’t just a casual racing demo. It’s a calculated initiative to fuse American muscle with Japan’s precision engineering scene. In NASCAR, Toyota, a Japanese manufacturer, is already influencing the former’s decisions behind the scenes. So this star-packed demo sets the stage for something even bigger and longer-lasting.

NASCAR star driver Jimmie Johnson to ignite Fuji

Insider Steven Taranto dropped the news via his X post, straight from Fuji Speedway’s official channels. “There will be a NASCAR demonstration run at Fuji Speedway during the final round of the Super Taikyu Series, with Jimmie Johnson, Kamui Kobayashi, John Hunter Nemechek, and more showcasing NASCAR stock cars.” This news hits like a green flag as Johnson straps into the Garage 56 Camaro ZL1 from his 2023 Le Mans run, a beast built for innovation.

Big news from Japan: There will be a NASCAR demonstration run at Fuji Speedway during the final round of the Super Taikyu Series, with Jimmie Johnson, Kamui Kobayashi, John Hunter Nemechek and more showcasing NASCAR stock cars.

NASCAR cars will also be on display at Fuji… https://t.co/MbO7XY0iJ0

— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) November 1, 2025

Kobayashi, the Le Mans winner and ex-F1 standout who debuted in NASCAR at Indy in 2023, pilots a 23XI Racing Toyota Camry XSE. About the cross-cultural aspect, he had said, “I think NASCAR is kind of like baseball. It’s something different in the culture of motorsports compared to Japan and Europe, and it’s NASCAR, and as a driver, it’s an American dream.” His comments remind us how NASCAR has successfully managed to carve out its own niche, separating itself from all the type of motorsports out there.

Legacy Motor Club’s Nemecheck joins in a matching Camry, while Japanese aces Takuma Koga, Kazuto Kotaka, and Toshiki Oyu handle ARCA-spec rides in a Ford Mustang, Chevy SS, and another Camry, respectively. These drivers’ names for the demo blend cup royalty with local heroes, echoing past specials at Suzuka but now evolved for today’s global push.

Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda headed this through the Super Taikyu Mirai Organization (STMO). Taranto added in his follow-up tweet, “NASCAR cars will also be on display at Fuji Speedway throughout the weekend to give Japanese race fans an intimate look at the cars from the top form of racing in the U.S.”

There will be picture-polished stock cars in the Fuji paddock on Friday and Saturday, then the demo race tearing up Fuji on November 16 before the four-hour finale. The STMO laid it out clearly: “This initiative introduces the appeal of American-made vehicles, previously absent from the Super Taikyu Series, in order to increase spectators and attract new teams…. We will also contribute to deepening the collaboration between the Japanese and American automotive industries.”

But the question lingers: Why Japan? It’s home turf for Toyota’s racing empire, and this demo may bridge the gap of an auto giant rivalry into a partnership. Toyoda’s vision shines through this demonstration, which may flip the script on Super Taikyu’s Japanese focus. As the ST-USA class is debuting with a Callaway Corvette and Ford Mustang Dark Horse R, driven by Le Mans vet Kazuki Nakajima and others. NASCAR will look to flex its V8 engine’s growl on Fuji’s 1.5-mile layout, with no full race but enough to hook Japanese racing fans.

Growth? This will plant seeds for more U.S. entries, drawing crowds to a series that’s grown 20% in attendance lately, per STMO trends. Johnson’s star power, along with 83 Cup wins, will definitely pull global views, while Kobayashi’s local craze will build buzz. This could evolve Super Taikyu into a mixing pot for two different racing heritages, cultivating teams and sponsors across borders.

As NASCAR eyes far-located tracks, stateside surprises keep the home front humming.

FOX slip-up drops Honeycutt’s 2026 bombshell

Friday’s Truck Series finale at Phoenix turned chaotic off-track when FOX’s broadcast let a secret slip. Reporter Amanda Busick, while interviewing third-place finisher Kaden Honeycutt post-race, casually dropped that he’d run full-time with TRICON Garage in 2026, riding the No. 11 truck vacated by Corey Heim.

Honeycutt, the 22-year-old Texan substituting for injured Stewart Friesen in the No. 52, just nodded along, saying it’d be with “this manufacturer.” The FOX booth quickly chimed in, noting the official word was due “next week,” but it was already late, as the fans had already gotten the news.

NEWS: Per @AmandaBusick just now on @FS1, @KadenWHoneycutt will return to the @NASCAR_Trucks full time next season with @TRICONGarage.

Official announcement next week, it would seem.#NASCAR | #Championship4 | #NCTSChampionship

— Jacob Seelman (@JacobSeelman77) November 1, 2025

Honeycutt’s path here? Rough. Niece Motorsports cut him loose in August after a solid rookie year, leaving him seatless until Friesen Racing gave him a chance. And he responded with five top-10s in eight starts, including back-to-back podiums to wrap up his season. TRICON, fresh off with Heim‘s title, sees Honeycutt’s potential.

But this leak, amid gripes over FOX’s remote Charlotte studio call, shows how one off-script line reshapes a driver’s trajectory.