Sometimes, NASCAR fans did some crazy stunts, which mostly happened in the 80s and 90s. For example, there was one scene where a drunk fan stole the pace car and took it for a joyride at Talladega. However, somebody went a step further and stole an actual NASCAR stock car, including the trailer. The unfortunate victim was the Team Extreme organisation during the 2015 season [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkt47imo-GI]. John Cohen founded Team Extreme all the way back in 2012 and the team ran sporadically in the Cup arena. During the three-year tenure before 2015, the team competed in 14 starts, going through at least four drivers. The drivers were, David Reutimann, Scott Riggs, Timmy Hill and JJ Yeley, and they were not particularly successful. Deep into the 2015 season, Travis Kvapil was supposed to take over driving duties at Atlanta. Ahead of the race weekend, the team sent the transporter early, because they were anticipating a snowstorm in Charlotte. With extra time to prepare the car, they took advantage and soon loaded it onto a white trailer, ready for transport. READ MORE: WATCH: When a Fan Stole a Car and Ran Laps Around Talladega Superspeedway [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-watch-when-a-fan-stole-a-car-and-ran-laps-around-talladega-superspeedway/] WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NASCAR TEAM ON THAT DAY? According to Kvapil, the team finished their preparations and drove it to the hotel, arriving at 11:30 at night. At around 5:40 AM, they went to warm up the truck and discovered that the trailer was gone. Hotel CCTV footage revealed that the truck and trailer were stolen around 5:34 AM, so the team were a few minutes too late. [https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/MUCPOPC4WJBP7DQJNT6LCK7BQQ.png] What made things even worse was the fact that there was a crewman outside. He was taking a smoke break, a mere few minutes before the theft took place. In all, it was the literal worst-case scenario, as a car costing nearly $300,000 went missing, along with an engine and spare parts. Naturally, everyone was stunned that someone had the audacity to steal a NASCAR car. There was no backup car, so they were forced to withdraw from the race. Then, in a cruel twist, the car was found once again, a mere 24 hours later. However, it was just the car, while the trailer and spare parts, were still at large. In the end, this incident seemingly marked the team’s death knell, because they didn’t race at all for the rest of the season. WATCH STORY: NASCAR Fans Are Reminded of Brad Keselowski’s Infamous “Illegal” Act After MLB Star is Suspended for the Same [https://www.essentiallysports.com/stories/nascar-nfl-news-nascar-fans-are-reminded-of-brad-keselowskis-infamous-illegal-act-after-mlb-star-is-suspended-for-the-same/] 

Having your NASCAR stock car stolen has got to be one of the most unique excuses
to not compete in a race, but it definitely happened.

Dhruv George is a senior Motorsports author for EssentiallySports, having
authored nearly 12000 articles spanning different sports like F1, NASCAR,
Tennis, NFL, and eSports. He graduated with a PG Diploma in Journalism from the
Xavier Institute of Communications. Dhruv has also conducted interviews with F1
driver Pierre Gasly and Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino. He has been an ardent
follower of motorsports sport since 2001, holding Carlos Sainz Jr. and McLaren
in high regard.

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Dhruv George

Dude, Where's My Stock Car?

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[caption id="attachment_589568" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-589568" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20210322171739/2021-03-21T233527Z_323183572_MT1USATODAY15771333_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-FOLDS-OF-HONOR-QUIKTRIP-500.jpg" alt="Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson" width="1920" height="1280" /> Mar 21, 2021; Hampton, Georgia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney (12) passes NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (5) late in the race to take the lead for the final time at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2>Atlanta Motor Speedway- 2021 Latest News, Winners, Qualifying, Track</h2>
Atlanta Motor Speedway (in the past Atlanta International Raceway) is a 1.5-mile race track in Hampton, Georgia, United States, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It has hosted NASCAR Cup Series stock vehicle races since its initiation in 1960.

The initial scenes of the 1980 film Smokey and the Bandit II were shot at the track, as were scenes of the 1983 film Stroker Ace; a 40th commemoration stunt show to recognize the 1977 shooting of the first Smokey and the Bandit in close by Jonesboro, Georgia, was held at AMS in 2017 and went to by Burt Reynolds.

The track was highlighted in the 1982 Kenny Rogers film Six Pack. Previous U.S. President Jimmy Carter once filled in as a ticket taker at the track and went to a few races there as Georgia's lead representative and as U.S. president.
<h2>History</h2>
The setting was purchased by Speedway Motorsports in 1990. In 1994, 46 townhouses were worked over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to normalize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two middle ovals, the whole track was totally remade.

The frontstretch and backstretch were traded, and the design of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval, with another authority length of 1.54-mile (2.48 km) where before it was 1.522-mile (2.449 km). The project made the track one of the quickest on the NASCAR circuit. It has a seating limit of 71,000 - 125.000 relying upon design.

The track facilitated a NASCAR Cup Series race end of the week yearly on Labor Day weekend from 2009 to 2014. The 2009 move from an October race date to Labor Day weekend was likewise joined by an adjustment in start time, denoting the main NASCAR Cup Series under the lights at Atlanta Motor Speedway and the arrival of Labor Day weekend NASCAR dashing toward the Southern United States.

Different features of the facility are a quarter-mile track between the pit street and the fundamental track for Legends racing and a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) FIA-endorsed street course. In 1996, the speedway facilitated the Countryfest show, pulling in more than 200,000 fans.

For the vast majority of the 1990s and 2000s, the track flaunted the most elevated velocities on the NASCAR circuit, with a common passing lap speed of around 193 mph (311 km/h), first posted by driver Breton Roussel on June 22, 1990, and a record lap speed of more than 197 mph (317 km/h).

In 2004 and 2005, the likewise planned Texas Motor Speedway saw marginally quicker qualifying times, and as the tracks' individual racing surfaces have worn, qualifying speeds at Texas have gotten reliably quicker than at Atlanta.
<h2>2021 Race</h2>
Ryan Blaney won the race, driving a Ford. Kyle Larson led for 269 laps, but Blaney overtook him eight laps from the end because Larson's tires were wearing out.

With Blaney’s win, NASCAR had its sixth different champion in its first six races of 2021.
<h2>Quick Facts</h2>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="301">Location</td>
<td width="301">Henry County, Georgia, at 1500 Tara Place Hampton, GA, 30228</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Operator</td>
<td width="301">Speedway Motorsports, Inc.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Major Events</td>
<td width="301"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series</strong>

Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500

Quaker State 400

<strong>NASCAR Xfinity Series</strong>

EchoPark 250

TBA

<strong>NASCAR Camping World Truck</strong>

Series Fr8Auctions 200

<strong>Atlanta Track Club</strong>

Atlanta Marathon</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Length</td>
<td width="301">1.54 mi (2.48 km)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Most Wins</td>
<td width="301">Dale Earnhardt (9)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Most Starts</td>
<td width="301">Richard Petty (65)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Poles</td>
<td width="301">Buddy Baker, Ryan Newman (7)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Atlanta Motor Speedway

Mar 21, 2021; Hampton, Georgia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney (12) passes NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (5) late in the race to take the lead for the final time at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports Atlanta Motor Speedway- 2021 Latest News, Winners, Qualifying, Track Atlanta Motor Speedway (in the past Atlanta International Raceway) is a 1.5-mile race track in Hampton, Georgia, United States, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It has hosted NASCAR Cup Series stock vehicle races since its initiation in 1960. The initial scenes of the 1980 film Smokey and the Bandit II were shot at the track, as were scenes of the 1983 film Stroker Ace; a 40th commemoration stunt show to recognize the 1977 shooting of the first Smokey and the Bandit in close by Jonesboro, Georgia, was held at AMS in 2017 and went to by Burt Reynolds. The track was highlighted in the 1982 Kenny Rogers film Six Pack. Previous U.S. President Jimmy Carter once filled in as a ticket taker at the track and went to a few races there as Georgia&#8217;s lead representative and as U.S. president. History The setting was purchased by Speedway Motorsports in 1990. In 1994, 46 townhouses were worked over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to normalize the track with Speedway Motorsports&#8217; other two middle ovals, the whole track was totally remade. The frontstretch and backstretch were traded, and the design of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval, with another authority length of 1.54-mile (2.48 km) where before it was 1.522-mile (2.449 km). The project made the track one of the quickest on the NASCAR circuit. It has a seating limit of 71,000 &#8211; 125.000 relying upon design. The track facilitated a NASCAR Cup Series race end of the week yearly on Labor Day weekend from 2009 to 2014. The 2009 move from an October race date to Labor Day weekend was likewise joined by an adjustment in start time, denoting the main NASCAR Cup Series under the lights at Atlanta Motor Speedway and the arrival of Labor Day weekend NASCAR dashing toward the Southern United States. Different features of the facility are a quarter-mile track between the pit street and the fundamental track for Legends racing and a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) FIA-endorsed street course. In 1996, the speedway facilitated the Countryfest show, pulling in more than 200,000 fans. For the vast majority of the 1990s and 2000s, the track flaunted the most elevated velocities on the NASCAR circuit, with a common passing lap speed of around 193 mph (311 km/h), first posted by driver Breton Roussel on June 22, 1990, and a record lap speed of more than 197 mph (317 km/h). In 2004 and 2005, the likewise planned Texas Motor Speedway saw marginally quicker qualifying times, and as the tracks&#8217; individual racing surfaces have worn, qualifying speeds at Texas have gotten reliably quicker than at Atlanta. 2021 Race Ryan Blaney won the race, driving a Ford. Kyle Larson led for 269 laps, but Blaney overtook him eight laps from the end because Larson&#8217;s tires were wearing out. With Blaney’s win, NASCAR had its sixth different champion in its first six races of 2021. Quick Facts  Location Henry County, Georgia, at 1500 Tara Place Hampton, GA, 30228  Operator Speedway Motorsports, Inc.  Major Events NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Quaker State 400 NASCAR Xfinity Series EchoPark 250 TBA NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Fr8Auctions 200 Atlanta Track Club Atlanta Marathon  Length 1.54 mi (2.48 km)  Most Wins Dale Earnhardt (9)  Most Starts Richard Petty (65)  Poles Buddy Baker, Ryan Newman (7)

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NASCAR Cup Series Team Had Their $500,000 Car Unbelievably Stolen Hours Before a Race This Past Decade

What happened to the NASCAR team on that day?