“Be a Decent Person”- Desperate Racing Team Begs for Help as Shocking Burglary Rocks Late Model Dirt Series

From stolen race funds to high-performance vehicles, this growing crime wave raises a bigger question—how safe are we when the race day ends? No team is safe from the dangers surrounding the track: be it from a small garage like Daniel Hilsabeck Racing or some of the motorsport world’s greatest names like Hall of Famer Jack Roush. The sport’s greatest weakness is ever increasingly becoming what thieves are always after.

For Daniel Hilsabeck Racing, Saturday night at the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series in Ocala was supposed to be another step in their long and grueling season. After five weeks on the road, sacrificing time away from home and putting every last dollar into their race program, they were just trying to do what they love—compete. But while they were focused on racing, someone else was focused on them for all the wrong reasons.

DHR is not concerned about their money but about people’s safety

Sometime during the night, their hauler was broken into. Cabinets were opened, their living space was rummaged through, and worst of all, a large sum of money was stolen. Money that wasn’t extra, money that wasn’t just lying around—it was what kept their team going. And now it was gone.

More than anything, the team’s message wasn’t just about getting their money back. It was about something much bigger: “Please, lock your doors, be a decent person, and work for what you want instead of taking from others.” It’s a small ask, but it’s a very deep-cutting one. The hardest part? The team believes they were targeted.

While plenty of other haulers sat in the pit area, theirs was the only one that was hit. Someone knew where to look. Someone deliberately invaded their space, dug through their things, and took what wasn’t theirs. “We believe we have a good idea of who did this, and we hope that this allows them to do what is right and return what is ours,” the team shared in a heartfelt post. They don’t want payback or a further escalation. Rather, they just want their money back so that they can continue their racing operations.

Racing isn’t easy. Most teams aren’t supported by huge sponsors or multimillion-dollar deals. They get by on a second job, using every last dollar to fund fuel, tires, and travel to pursue their dreams. And when someone steals from them, it’s not about the money; it’s about respect. Despite everything, Daniel Hilsabeck Racing isn’t giving up. They’ll keep pushing forward, even if this setback makes the road ahead that much harder.

But they’re holding onto hope. Hope that the person responsible will realize the damage they’ve done. Hope that someone in the pits that night saw something and will come forward. Hope that racing can go back to being about competition and passion, not fear and suspicion. If you were at Ocala and saw anything, the team is asking you to reach out. You won’t be named, you won’t be dragged into anything; they just want what was taken from them.

It’s not only DHR who would’ve appreciated the decency but someone who became a big victim of a similar incident back in 2022.

Stolen Trucks of NASCAR Hall of Famer Jack Roush Recovered in Multi-State Theft Operation

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In November 2022, NASCAR Hall of Famer and co-owner of RFK Racing, Jack Roush was victimized in an operation where two high-performance trucks were stolen from Roush Enterprises in Livonia, Michigan. Those vehicles, such as the 2022 Roush F-150, were among some of the innovative automotive technology for the company, holding immense value in dollars and brand recognition.

The theft was not an isolated incident. Instead, it was part of a larger, multi-state crime spree targeting high-end vehicles across the Midwest and South. After an extensive two-year federal investigation, law enforcement tracked the stolen trucks to an organized vehicle theft ring that specialized in high-performance vehicles. One of Roush’s trucks was eventually found in Texas, while the other remains missing.

Federal officials have filed charges against two suspects associated with the case, including trafficking stolen vehicles for Diaunte Shields. It was reported that the break-in was highly organized, targeting only exclusive, high-priced automobiles. “This is not a random theft; this is as part of an organized crime ring that targeted high-performance vehicles. States were targeted by these high-performance thieves,” said one investigator about the case.

Despite the theft, Roush, 82, remains focused on the future of RFK Racing, which is preparing for the 2025 Cup Series season with three full-time entries. The incident has served as a reminder of the vulnerabilities even well-secured automotive facilities face in the modern era.

The theft serves as a reminder of the importance of robust security measures and the need for continuous vigilance in protecting valuable assets.