Coca-Cola 500 (Motegi)

The Coca-Cola 500 (Motegi) was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series exhibition race held at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Motegi, Japan. It was contested only once, on November 22, 1998. The race was not a points-paying event and served primarily as a promotional venture for NASCAR to expand its reach into the Japanese market.

The race distance was 500 kilometers (approximately 310 miles), making the name "Coca-Cola 500" slightly misleading in terms of the typical NASCAR distance nomenclature based on miles.

The event was won by Mike Skinner, driving the No. 31 Lowe's Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. The race featured a mix of regular NASCAR Winston Cup drivers and a few guest drivers from other racing series.

The Coca-Cola 500 (Motegi) was generally considered a success in terms of fan attendance and exposure for NASCAR in Japan, but due to logistical challenges and the cost of transporting teams and equipment overseas, it was not repeated in subsequent years. Despite its short lifespan, it remains a notable event in NASCAR history as its only race ever held in Japan.