NASCAR Thunder Special Suzuka

(Redirected from Suzuka Thunder Special) NASCAR exhibition races See also: Suzuka Circuit § Motorsport events Motor race

NASCAR Thunder Special Suzuka
NASCAR Winston Cup Series

Venue	Suzuka Circuit
First race	1996
Last race	1997
Distance	1996: 139.4 miles (224.3 km) 1997: 174.2 miles (280.3 km)
Laps	1996: 100 1997: 125
Previous names	NASCAR Suzuka Thunder Special (1996) NASCAR Thunder Special Suzuka (1997)

In 1996 and 1997, NASCAR held non-championship exhibition races on the East portion of the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan. Several Japanese, Australian and Winston West Series drivers participated among some of the Winston Cup Series regulars. In 1997, rain tires were used in NASCAR competition for the first time, being run in practice and qualifying. The races were broadcast on TBS in the U.S. The following year saw a race at Twin Ring Motegi.

Race winners

Year	Date	No.	Driver	Team	Manufacturer	Race Distance		Race Time	Average Speed (mph)	Pole speed (mph)
Year	Date	No.	Driver	Team	Manufacturer	Laps	Miles (km)	Race Time	Average Speed (mph)	Pole speed (mph)
1996	November 24	2	Rusty Wallace	Penske Racing	Ford	100	139.4 (224.342)	1:56:25	71.897	83.079
1997	November 23	31	Mike Skinner	Richard Childress Racing	Chevrolet	125	174.25 (280.428)	2:20:22	74.537	80.608

Current (2025)

Championship

Playoffs	Darlington 2 Gateway Bristol 2 Loudon Kansas 2 Charlotte Roval Las Vegas 2 Talladega 2 Martinsville 2 Phoenix 2

Exhibition

Former

Championship	Bristol Dirt Charlotte 2 Chicagoland Daytona RC Dover 2 Fontana Fontana 2 Indy RC Kentucky Loudon 2 Michigan 2 Nashville Fairgrounds 1 Nashville Fairgrounds 2 North Wilkesboro 1 North Wilkesboro 2 Ontario Pocono 2 Richmond 2 Riverside 1 Riverside 2 Rockingham 1 Rockingham 2 Road America Soldier Field Texas 2 Texas World 1 Texas World 2 Trenton
Exhibition	Calder Park Motegi Suzuka

Note: The Cup Series has multiple events at the same racing venue.

NASCAR on TBS

Lap-by-lap	Allen Bestwick Ken Squier
Color commentators	Buddy Baker Dick Berggren Geoff Bodine Neil Bonnett Chuck Bown Dick Brooks Barry Dodson Chris Economaki Johnny Hayes Ernie Irvan Glenn Jarrett Ned Jarrett Chad Little Dave Marcis Larry McReynolds Benny Parsons Phil Parsons Richard Petty Joe Ruttman Lake Speed Ken Stabler Lyn St. James Kenny Wallace Darrell Waltrip Cale Yarborough
Pit reporters	Jack Arute Dick Berggren Alice Cook Dave Despain Chris Economaki Jerry Garrett Charlie Harville Mike Hogewood Glenn Jarrett Benny Parsons Phil Parsons Pat Patterson Randy Pemberton Mark Pfister Jerry Punch Bob Varsha Mike Wallace Joe Whitlock
Studio anchors	Rick Benjamin Allen Bestwick Dave Despain Mike Joy Ken Squier

Races covered

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