en NASCAR Thunder Special Suzuka

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^[1]	November 24	2	Rusty Wallace	Penske Racing	Ford	100	139.4 (224.342)	1:56:25	71.897	83.079
1997^[2]	November 23	31	Mike Skinner	Richard Childress Racing	Chevrolet	125	174.25 (280.428)	2:20:22	74.537	80.608

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