Takuma Koga Bio
Takuma Koga (古賀琢麻, Koga Takuma; born April 16, 1977) is a Japanese professional stock car racing driver. He last competed full-time in the ARCA Menards Series East, driving the No. 12 Toyota Camry for Fast Track Racing, while also making part-time starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Joey Gase Motorsports. A veteran of NASCAR’s developmental ladder since 2001, Koga has built a steady career across regional and national series, often racing Toyotas fielded by smaller, owner-driver teams.
Early Life and Background
Takuma Koga was born on April 16, 1977, in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. He grew up in Japan during a period when interest in American motorsports was expanding globally, eventually finding his way to the stock car circuits of the United States. Details about his family background and early education are not widely documented in public sources.
His introduction to racing came through a fascination with American stock car culture, and he began laying the groundwork for a driving career in his early twenties. That interest carried him across the Pacific, where he started competing in NASCAR-sanctioned events and began building his résumé on ovals in the Pacific Northwest.
Path to NASCAR
Koga began his NASCAR career in 2001 in the NASCAR Northwest Series, attempting six races, qualifying for five, and failing to make one event. He then moved between partial schedules in the K&N Pro Series West from 2002 through 2016, gaining experience at a long list of short tracks and road courses across the western United States.
In 2017, Koga ran his first full season in the K&N Pro Series West. That year, he earned a career-best fifth-place finish at Orange Show Speedway, a result that demonstrated he could compete at the front of the field on tight, demanding ovals. The performance set the stage for his transition into the ARCA Menards Series.
Takuma Koga Career
Early Career (2001–2016)
For the first fifteen years of his American career, Koga split time between the Northwest Series and the K&N Pro Series West. He became a familiar figure at western short tracks, logging consistent starts without capturing feature wins at the national level. That long apprenticeship helped him master the rhythm of stock car racing, including tire management and drafting on tight ovals.
His patience paid off in 2017, when he committed to a full K&N Pro Series West schedule and posted his best result to date at Orange Show Speedway. The fifth-place showing established him as a driver capable of top-tier finishes in NASCAR’s developmental system.
ARCA Menards Series West Breakthrough (2018–2020)
In December 2018, Koga announced that he would join Performance P-1 Motorsports for the 2019 ARCA Menards Series West campaign. The team provided him with a consistent ride and the chance to chase a championship-caliber season on familiar western ovals.
He remained with Performance P-1 for the 2020 season as the series operated under the ARCA Menards Series West banner. The stability allowed Koga to refine his approach to longer races and continue building a reputation as a reliable, experienced competitor within the regional tour.
Jerry Pitts Racing Era (2021)
Koga left Performance P-1 for the 2021 season and joined Jerry Pitts Racing to drive the team’s No. 7 car full-time. That year, the team transitioned its equipment from Ford to Toyota, aligning Koga with the manufacturer he has raced with since.
The organization had previously been known as Jefferson Pitts Racing before co-owners Jeff Jefferson and Jerry Pitts split to run separate operations. The new alignment gave Koga a fresh opportunity and a manufacturer partnership that would later carry him into NASCAR national series competition.
Fast Track Racing and Joey Gase Motorsports Era (2022–2025)
On February 21, 2022, a Yahoo! Japan report revealed that Koga planned to attempt his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut later that year, driving for MBM Motorsports, though that effort did not materialize. He continued competing in ARCA while keeping his national-series ambitions in view.
On January 30, 2025, Koga moved to the ARCA Menards Series East to run the No. 12 Toyota for Fast Track Racing on a full-season basis. Later that year, it was announced that he would make his Xfinity Series debut with Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen, originally slated for the No. 53 Toyota. He was not entered at Dover Motor Speedway, but he did enter the Portland race in the No. 35 Toyota, where he finished 29th.
Driving Style and Strengths
Koga is known for a steady, experience-driven style that suits the tight, abrasive surfaces of regional short tracks and road courses. His long familiarity with Toyota equipment has helped him build consistent communication with crew chiefs on setup changes. He has also shown the patience required to grind through full seasons in the ARCA ladder.
Notable Races and Milestones
His career-best fifth-place finish at Orange Show Speedway in 2017 marked his first major result on a national K&N stage. His 2025 Xfinity Series debut at Portland in the No. 35 Toyota for Joey Gase Motorsports represented his first start in one of NASCAR’s three national touring series.
Takuma Koga Career Wins
Across his time in the Northwest Series, K&N Pro Series West, ARCA Menards Series West, ARCA Menards Series East, and the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Koga has been a consistent presence rather than a frequent winner. Verified feature-race victories at the national series level are not documented in available sources.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
In the ARCA Menards Series West, Koga’s most notable results came during his seasons with Performance P-1 Motorsports in 2019 and 2020, where he ran full campaigns. In 2025, he returned to a full ARCA schedule in the East division with Fast Track Racing, posting competitive finishes in the No. 12 Toyota Camry.
Other Wins and Performances
Koga’s earlier career was spent primarily in the NASCAR Northwest Series and the K&N Pro Series West, where he gained crucial seat time from 2001 through the late 2010s. His fifth-place run at Orange Show Speedway in 2017 remains his most celebrated regional result.
Takuma Koga Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Takuma Koga’s family background and racing lineage is limited. He is recognized within the motorsports community as a Japanese-born driver who built his career in the United States.
Personal Life
Details about Koga’s personal life, including marital status and family outside of racing, are not widely documented in public sources. He continues to focus on his career as a professional stock car racing driver competing in the ARCA and NASCAR ranks.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a significant step for Koga, beginning with his January 30 announcement that he would contest the full ARCA Menards Series East schedule with Fast Track Racing in the No. 12 Toyota Camry. The move gave him a stable ride and the chance to pursue consistent top finishes in a developmental series.
Mid-season, Koga finally reached a long-awaited milestone when he made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut with Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen. After being absent from the Dover Motor Speedway entry list, he entered the Portland race in the No. 35 Toyota Supra GR and finished 29th, officially completing his first national-series start.
Looking ahead, Koga’s split schedule between ARCA East and the Xfinity Series provides a foundation for additional national-series opportunities. His continued partnership with Toyota and his familiarity with smaller, owner-driver teams position him to chase further starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series while maintaining a competitive presence in ARCA.
