1996 NASCAR Suzuka Thunder Special from Suzuka City, Japan | NASCAR Classic Race Replay

Relive the 1996 NASCAR Suzuka Thunder Special from Suzuka City, Japan. This race was the first of two races on the Suzuka Curciut before the exhibition race moved to Twin Ring Motegi in 1998.
Enjoy NASCAR's first trip to Japan in this week's NASCAR Classic Race Replay.
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[@HumbertoSaabedra]

What gets lost about these races is how much Dale Sr. was over the moon racing at Suzuka since he followed Formula 1 and deeply respected Ayrton Senna. To this day, I still think about what could have been with the Earnhardts running the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the Corvettes, too

[@TheGribbleNator]

As much I love the idea of popular Americans in the 24h Le Mans, a big part of why Nascar didn't stay national is because the racers didn't like the idea of being beaten by other nationalities at their own sport. It pissed them off. You can see #31 puts Fukuyama off the track after going off himself in a fit of frustration in this race. That type of behavior is why we don't go national anymore.

[@chrisklatter3490]

Dale Sr & Jr did drive in the rolex 24 hrs at Daytona, during the off season of 2000 into 2001. That is why Sr was so confident about an 8th championship in 2001. He told Richard Childress during a hunting trip they were on that he learned so much in that race he did with Jr. Its also why he told Michael Waltrip before the 01 500 '' listen to me you me and jr are gonna dominant that race and if you watch the interview with MW he says wow that would be great but that doesn't sound very realistic but he believed in SR and what he said and it was gonna be a 1 2 3 finish cause we all know he was running blocker for JR & MW and he was just fine with being 3rd. that is what made SR such a special person he already had his 500 win and wanted to make sure that MW's 1st win was his 463rd start. he was 0-462 and dale wanted to change that and that win gave him the the confidence to win a 2nd Daytona 500! He was the man he was the best and will never be matched R Petty may be the king but SR was a mentor and teacher he made others around him better that is the mark of a true champion.

[@dawsonlair7630]

Damn that’s a cool idea

[@kem0n0.kokomo]

@@TheGribbleNator That just sounds completely schizo TBH, I don't get the impression

[@TheGribbleNator]

@Kokomo History is interesting in the following way: It happened. You can choose to believe it or not, it's not my job to convince you of anything.

[@DaytonaPrototypes]

1996: NASCAR actually in Japan 2013: NASCAR in Japan... in Gran Turismo 6

[@superninja252]

2020: NASCAR in Japan... in Forza Motorsport 7

[@unleasherquiles8319]

And Real Racing 3

[@epic9256]

Bottom line NASCAR hasn’t been in Japan since 1998

[@gofastskatkat]

that moment the drift king himself was involved in nascar, holy crap

[@fabian_balle]

Nascar needs to go international again

[@jetengnexd4348]

The it wouldn’t be NASCAR, it’d be IASCAR.

[@IrishRugbyAccountant]

@@jetengnexd4348 yeah, same with the International Basketball Association and the International Hockey League right?

[@jetengnexd4348]

@@IrishRugbyAccountant exactly, but IASCAR doesn’t roll off the tongue like IBA

[@idkwhatowritehere-p3m]

I say that NASCAR should exist exclusively in the USA but that there would be other NASCAR series by the same organization that would run in other countries and continents so that NASCAR in the USA have in its essence but there is also another exclusive series from Asia, another from Europe, Australia etc. I say that it is the best option for NASCAR in the USA to continue to have a unique essence but if you want to see NASCAR in other places in the world there are alternative series exclusive from those places but with with the same concept of traditional Stock Car... Just my opinion Edit: although those Stock Cars from those alternative series would be traditional but not the same as the Cup or Xfinity cars to distinguish USA cars from those from other series of others parts of the world

[@jetengnexd4348]

@@idkwhatowritehere-p3m there is a NASCAR series in Canada, Mexico, and the UK

[@EpicTyphlosionTV]

Nascar needs to do more international races. This kind of stuff is awesome

[@clarkfletcher3142]

Yeah and it might help the sport get a lot more new fans

[@TheMNrailfan227]

Absolutely

[@TheMNrailfan227]

Even though it kind of is already with the Peak Mexico series and Whelen Euro NASCAR in England

[@BottleRocket11]

I am intentionally misreading this as "NASCAR Back to Suzuka Confirmed" so I can live my happy life. What I would give for these international exhibitions to return!

[@nattiedraws]

Same, these races are so much fun and could help grow the sport. I wish NASCAR would swallow their pride and do them again.

[@Thedearster]

@@nattiedraws Its about money and sponsors. NASCAR doesn't believe it would be financial success.

[@yfi62dortoh]

Thedearster it would be, with all the kids playing forza? We know and love this track! “BROO I drifted this whole track and now nascar is there, sick!!”

[@hayden4597]

I do wish they had used the long course for this race

[@BobeBryant93]

Pure chaos lmao it'd be fun but scary for the drivers

[@chevybalzer1865]

130R would have been wild.

[@jacobaxton6353]

Final chicane would've been like bulls in a China shop. And it would've been beautiful

[@yfi62dortoh]

Me too

[@damag3plan]

👍👍👍

[@MobiusOneFoxTwo]

I don't understand how even with a Japanese manufacturer in the series, an exhibition race in Japan hasn't happened again. With more road courses being added to the schedule, maybe it's finally time to head back to the land of the rising sun, as either an exhibition race at Suzuka (hopefully the full circuit) again or as it's own series, like NASCAR Euro. A dream would be hitting up Suzuka, Fuji, Okayama, Autopolis, Motegi, and Sportsland SUGO all in one go. Now that would be exciting to watch. At least there's still the three races from '96-'98 to go back and watch.

[@xSoccerxCorex]

from what mark martin has said, a lot of the drivers hated it because the LAST thing they'd want to do after a 30 race season is spend another 2 weeks in japan after spending nearly 20 hours flying over.

[@ChrisBl33p]

And then there are all the logistical challenges of shipping 40+ race cars, equipment, renting haulers. Add that to an already long schedule, two exhibition races already on the schedule and several races go to the chopping block for a race that don't mean jack.

[@tyleredwards6016]

The drivers of this era of Nascar had the best personalities. The interviews are great and the drivers seem relatable to the average blue collar person.

[@marclewis1199]

I remember staying up to watch the race. Wife thought I was nuts. NASCAR was so big in the 90s.

[@FerioSpeedTribe]

keiichi and dale in one racetrack, goddamn

[@Snake180]

Wow i totally forgot the the Drift king Keiichi Tsuchiya drove on this race.

[@nothinghere7391]

Dorikin sama!

[@LSJTS1976]

from Japan, I watched the domestic telecast and heard via interview in it that he felt hard to drive due to the oval spec (non-differential drive train) car.

[@nothinghere7391]

@@LSJTS1976 Jesus that had to be an awful experience. It's a miracle he drove to 11th at one point. Long live DoriDori!

[@TheBrainSpecialist]

The Best Motoring episodes about that race are up on youtube too

[@ramensospicy2992]

@@nothinghere7391 he would have finished 11th or 10th too if he didn't get hit from behind and got spun out at the last corner of the last lap. oh well. gg's DK san.

[@mtownfiremedic]

I love this. With the addition of Daytona Road Course and the Roval...I hope they look to take trips like this again. Road course racing is dope. Nascar at Spa...ratings through the roof guaranteed.

[@SwingAxleLover]

@@legolite45 What's wrong with Monza?

[@marvinlinnarz5856]

Nürburgring GP Circuit. So i can finally watch NASCAR in Person

[@SeanCampbell_iRacing]

Michael Yachnis there are heavy braking zones

[@wyldcardsam]

@Kawhi funnyguy would never happen but would be fun

[@Kanawha_Railfan]

@Random Animations What happened with the oval for it to have an "issue?"

[@shanegleaves742]

This is the kind of races we need for allstar and championship races something diffrent every year

[@SamnissArandeen]

The official partnership with iRacing is a gold mine for stuff like this. Race any track in the world in a midweek prime time slot!

[@C-M-E]

Well hey, a 'vintage' race I remember watching the first time around! Quite a few drivers I was introduced to in the years between that I didn't recognize at the time, like the Drift King Tsuchiya, among the old favorites. What a time capsule of racing history!

[@CucoOscar]

RETURN TO SUZUKA PLEASE! THIS SHOULD BE THE PRESEASON RACE BEFORE DAYTONA.

[@cosmo3757]

Great idea !

[@yoanncastillou9427]

That would be great! But if they come back to Japan I think it's more likely to be at Fuji (a Toyota owned track) rather than Suzuka (owned by Honda)

[@ciello___8307]

@@yoanncastillou9427 fuji would be pretty epic too with its long straight and the overtaking going into turn 1

[@idkwhatowritehere-p3m]

That is an incredible idea, hopefully and something like that can be done, perhaps also in the Twin Ring Motegi oval it would be very good, my humble opinion

[@ciello___8307]

@@idkwhatowritehere-p3m the motegi oval got damadged by the 2011 earthquake. No more racing on it

[@fajarpradityo]

When Drift King drive a stock

[@billybishop1997]

Fun fact: NASCAR was in Australia at the Calder Park Thunderdome before they went to Japan at Suzuka and at Motegi. Anybody knew that?

[@suhdud4646]

I was 6 years old when this race took place. Please keep the days of thunder rolling. Loved the 90's era of racing (Nascar/BTCC).

[@tedgey4286]

These old races are so much fun to watch. Must've been fun to participate in too as that last interview with Earnhardt and Gordon shows

[@TheRacingMemes]

I just imagine the NASCAR comeback to Japan or an "NASCAR Japan Series"

[@TheRacingMemes]

@@realbaron5714 agreed. I wanna know if Honda and Nissan make V8's for NASCAR

[@TheRacingMemes]

@@realbaron5714 About Honda: Civic Si or (Acura) NSX for Xfinity and Accord for Cup and Nissan GT-R for Xfinity and Altima or Maxima for Cup. And both with screaming V8's (which must to stay in NASCAR)

[@Phonixrmf]

If Honda joins NASCAR, they have to have VTEC in the engines

[@jeffreyvences5746]

Bring Dodge back!!! Ram once again Challenger back in action. They left a champ, it's only a matter of time before they decide to reinvest in the sport. Imagine Ray Evernham and Dodge with a comeback!???🤔

[@TheRacingMemes]

@@jeffreyvences5746 OMG! Dodge must to be back!

[@joshherman4214]

Never knew they went to suzuka. That's epic! Great to see the Japanese people out there watching

[@kangarooswild]

ah the beauty of all these legends🚘driving through legendary Suzuka🇯🇵

[@Beemstarr]

@Kawhi funnyguy full suzuka would be dangerous for these cars. They’re using the smaller course but it’s still 100% suzuka

[@MayoFilms83]

This was Ernie Irvan's comeback year. He was in the 88 car then. He had two wins in 1996.

[@brandonenglund7516]

Man that was a lot of fun watching Gordon put the bumper to old Ironhead a lot that last lap

[@flexygoo1295]

It's so awesome to see all the old names. And Earnhardt fighting through the field...gives chills

[@garinakbar1907]

NASCAR goes from "Let's get racing!" To "Iyo-iyo battoru starto!"

[@rattroll4803]

I was a diehard Wallace fan his entire racing career! Miss him and all the old Nascar drivers...very nice memory here...Thanks for sharing!!!

[@dustykh]

I think it would be fantastic of there was an international stock car series that toured all of the world focusing on tracks that work with stock cars. Places with a nice balance of high speed straights and sweeping turns, without too many technical twisty parts. Tracks like Spa, Le Mans (Bugatti), EuroSpeedway, Motegi, Mount Panorama, etc.

[@joh329]

Warching from Corner Brook Newfoundland, just awesome to relive this classic race

[@alejandroledesma905]

Those Cars were real NASCARs 😍

[@AestheticsCrew101]

Scott Gaylord must of had a rough childhood

[@matthewreese2722]

Absolutely love these old races, hats off to nascar for these classic replays. Could you mix in busch and truck series too please?

[@bluecup1129]

Everyone who does not watch NASCAR: “NASCAR is a southern sport” Me:

[@joshjarnagin3161]

MyMrMoon Because New Hampshire, Watkins Glen, Kansas, Vegas, and Sonoma are all in the South right?

[@woodsnoopy]

WELCOME TO CANADA AND JAPAN BOYS!

[@HirokaAkita]

@@MyMrsMoon Look to Le Mans. NASCAR raced two cars there, in the goddamn 24h race.

[@tysonmclane5909]

Nascar IS a southern sport, started in the south and the best tracks are, in the south. It is as southern as it comes.

[@tysonmclane5909]

@@joshjarnagin3161 were you going to name a track that is actually worth a damn or nah?

[@racingmaniac2549]

Thanks NASCAR for the upload.

[@toyotafan7881]

Thanks Racing Maniac, I'm your mom

[@woodsnoopy]

If we ever return.. Hey dude where's my pink suit?

[@DatW268]

1:21 Keiichi Tsuchiya the Drift King!!!

[@spacnationfan673]

This is a good track, way to go NASCAR ✌️

[@fishproductions22]

This is peak epicness

[@ShoneDaddy]

Keiichi Tsuchiya driving a NASCAR lol I’ve seen it all now

[@davidalleyne934]

Imagine nascar's going flatout for 130R

[@TheDisneylander55]

Probably wouldn’t have the grip/downforce

[@mattf7132]

ahahhahaha they definetly would have to lift a ton

[@SamnissArandeen]

Two wide through 130R...

[@Goku-vb2nx]

Nascar should go International

[@capngrimm3684]

I didn't know Tschiya the Drift King ran in a NASCAR race

[@Mister_Matt_X]

Imagine if NASCAR creates a NASCAR Japan Series for Japanese drivers they’ve done it for Canada, Mexico and Europe. I can see a NASCAR Japan Series down the road in the works and there are great road courses in Japan including Twin Ring Motegi...

[@inky.64]

Honda, Nissan and obviously Toyota. If there's a 4th one, either Mazda or Subaru.

[@fernandofrankentuv3205]

The presence of all the drivers is what’s missing in nascar personality

[@iluvyousomuch000]

i like the good old days of nascar

[@MichaelRoma91]

Wow I never knew nor imagined they ever did this

[@Yuenix]

this is legendary and one of a kind, This is special.

[@John-Laird]

I hope they upload the rest of the Japanese NASCAR racees.

[@arwyss]

I forgot that Travis Carter was in on Fukuyama back in 96. Way before he actually came Cup racing.

[@yfi62dortoh]

NASCAR is worried about ratings... do you know how fast I would watch this if it happened today? This is amazing that they even did this!

[@___-ht6js]

Imagine NASCAR at Suzuka or Spa or even Monza's combined circuit

[@TheGreatTomDix]

I drive this track in my NASCAR in Forza all the time and I'm now reminded that I'm a n00b!

[@idkwhatowritehere-p3m]

How did I not know about this race? amazing! I wish there was a Japanese NASCAR series PS: they could use Twin Ring Motegi oval

[@hell-sol5240]

The racing wasn't very exciting at Motegi when they had it there before so nah they could do better

[@jah24car]

its crazy to know these kinds of races will never ever happen again. thankfully games like forza, iracing, rfactor, gran turismo gives you this opportunity through actual content or mods(rfactor)

[@robertbruce700]

Things are going back in a direction where this could happen. The new car thr new attitude about adding road courses. Times are changing.

[@NASCARIn-CarRadio]

The Clash at the Collasium proved we can race at pretty much any stadium we want.

[@morthanucantake4190]

Until this was uploaded i had no idea that nascar raced at Suzuka

[@michaeldewitt4820]

We all forget they were clutching it heal in toe. But I'll always live racing.

[@chancebaker6042]

NASCAR SHOULD TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD MORE!!!

[@oboy_67gaming59]

Ikr

[@chancebaker6042]

@Eminem Well sorry people out America like NASCAR and we don't really care that you guys want all the races.

[@RandomCarl05]

Once every 2 or 3 years maybe?

[@HirokaAkita]

Each 2 or 3 years would be great. Maybe someday some guy enters a NASCAR in 24h nurburgring endurance race. Or maybe someday NASCAR goes back to Le Mans...

[@Buynot]

Agreed. It would be so cool to see a cup race at a place like Brands Hatch or Eurospeedway Lausitz!

[@jonnie2bad]

back when nascar was worth paying attention to

[@HyperAura9015]

I would love to see NASCAR Come back to Japan To race At Fuji Speedway someday in the Future.

[@Kugel--]

I didn't know they could turn in both directions

[@ArnoldTriyudho]

NASCAR should also goes to Fuji Speedway & Okayama. (With SuperGT liveried Camrys)

[@glonniecanoy3441]

Fuji would be more challenging.

[@anthonydeloreto3881]

This race had some interesting names like Scott Gaylord. Wonder what he’s up to nowadays? 🤔

[@charlesbochar8681]

Heard him and Dick Thunder are chillin in Bahamas.

[@randomepic6204]

Interesting. An STP thunderbird

[@xprobellllllll]

Can't wait to watch :D

[@Alexandervu97]

NASCAR is set to race at the Suzuka Circuit Exhibition Race for the first time.

[@russianbubbawallace8681]

we need cup to have one of these type of races at Mugello or the Red Bull Ring

[@bmcminn8838]

That could possibly be Rabbits car ik he said it was ran on a road course in the 90s and it looks identical

[@tombstonejones9581]

I never knew that Keiichi and Fukoyama ever ran in NASCAR.

[@Odin3v]

Imagine the sound of all this freedom they are hearing for the first time. 750hp of raw bald eagles.

[@NEEDbacon]

It must have been genuinely insane. Like even if you were hanging around parking area's late at night near Tokyo this STILL would have been undescribable.

[@日暮桔梗-p5i]

Dear NASCAR, Please Come Back To JAPAN 🇯🇵, You can Race in Motegi or Fuji Speedway

[@MartyTuro]

We need the return of races in Japan, Mexico & Canada

[@rudfil]

Is this the same Suzuka track that F1 runs on because I don't see the notorious corner 130R. Its maybe a shortened version.

[@PaperBanjo64]

It's a shortened version.

[@HarbingerOfBattle]

To me, the definitive Jeff Gordon will always drive that rainbow colored Chevy Monte Carlo with the big ol’ Du Pont logo on the hood. Even if you didn’t like NASCAR, it caught your attention.

[@colebaker___]

Imagine going all the way to japan to race and your car quits on you on the pace laps before the race even starts

[@mrshadowolftxx4895]

NASCAR needs to go back to Japan & Australia

[@diegoparra5278]

This is awesome 👍 😎

[@frevazz3364]

Fun race.

[@ChiChiWoo]

Will you do the 97 Suzuka and 98 Motegi as well?

[@NASCAR]

You will have to wait and see :)

[@ChiChiWoo]

NASCAR Ok thank you!

[@muhammadwahyuhidayat21498]

Arigato,Nascar fans. We'll wait and see from 1997 and 1998 nascar at suzuka japan. 👍😗

[@94nolo]

NASCAR! Go back to Twin Ring Motegi!

[@Vladi306]

Looks like Bean's out on the 0th lap!

[@antborb7215]

Earnhardt's car is awesome.

[@TheBrainSpecialist]

WE NEED TO GO BACK

[@kingsmont]

crispy 720p too

[@jacekatalakis8316]

I wish they'd used the F1 layout for this...I mean, stock cars going through 130R and the Degners? Okay, they wouldn't get stopped as quick as an F1 car but....no reason why they couldn't run the full layout IMO. Watching them through the Esses is amazing. Considering what went on in the 96 Japanese GP..

[@potrykusrdale2799]

This was the first stage race.

[@seanburbank5657]

10 year later Toyota join NASCAR.

[@rzr-sm2fk]

Rusty Wallace was the first "great" stock car driver on road courses. Others came along like Gordon and Stewart but rusty laid the groundwork on how to wheel a stock car on road courses. Rusty was always good on tracks that were considered "driver" tracks i.e. road courses and short tracks

[@frevazz3364]

Ricky Rudd, Mark Martin, Ernie Irvan were pretty good too during that time on road courses. The off course Jeff Gordon. But Marcos Ambrose is probably the best Nascar road couse driver in Nascar in the modern era.

[@caseyk8824]

Ahh back when NASCAR was great

[@teodorusdikypermadi]

wow Toyota (🇯🇵) got manufacture ride NASCAR

[@BRZ61]

つちやのオッサンやー‼️hot versionで観たやつ

[@Yung_Lowdown59]

This is the craziest NASCAR race ever. It is absolutely insane seeing NASCAR on this track. The current cars would be a lot better for these tracks. Hear me out ok? NASCAR at Silverstone or dare I say Spa? That'd be so sick to see honestly with NASCAR's viewership now in America maybe that European audience is what they've been missing all along. F1 wants to get in America more so maybe NASCAR and Indycar should head to some European countries

[@warren9982]

lol @ Sterling Marlin ordering off the kids' menu just to get some french fries.

[@gamerageandhobbyrcdu]

Row 10 has the best driver names

[@emmanuelchavis7824]

Maybe iRacing need to add Suzuka as NASCAR tracks

[@joshuapowers4623]

I'm just starting the race, but why would you want to lead at halfway? I'd fade back to 10th while pretending idk, my brakes were fading or something. That way I could start back at the front.

[@firelynx1108]

we need to go back to the best foreign country in the world

[@firelynx1108]

Damar Fadlan same

[@firelynx1108]

I just want Chase to win without barreling into the Tums Heartburn Turn again

[@firelynx1108]

Damar Fadlan i can doubt we will go back to japan soon, but yeah, suzuka is one of my favorite tracks on the F1 calendar, based on when I drive it in F1 2020. I only like Monza, Austria, and Brazil better

[@jennifersears3974]

Elmo Langley didn't get to drive the pace car in this race and Doyle Ford has flagged his only race in Japan

[@alexander1485]

they almost looked like stock cars! PS- I bet all the Japanese people were like "Those cars are racing backwards!"

[@tylerp4130]

Those crew guys on pitroad wearing regular pants and button up shirts 🤣