HAMPTON, Ga. — Police have an all-points bulletin out for an unmarked white trailer and black truck used to steal a $300,000 stock car that was set to race at Atlanta Motor Speedway Sunday.
Phoenix's NASCAR team car 44 was supposed to be qualifying at Hampton's Atlanta Motor Speedway Friday for Sundays' Sprint Cup race. Instead it's without a car.
At about 5:45 a.m. Friday surveillance video shows a black Ford Dooley pulling away with an unmarked white trailer out of the Drury Inn on Lee Street in Morrow.
Inside the trailer was a $300,000 custom stock car.
As other teams readied for qualifying for the race, the driver of car 44 said he was stunned when heard the car was stolen.
"When I got the text and voice mail this morning from the crew, I kind of thought they were messing around at first," said driver Travis Kvapil
The driver said the car was parked inside the white unmarked trailer overnight at the Drury Inn since its regular big truck was already at the track.
The team's owner, John Cohen, is stunned.
"I honestly don't think they know what was in that trailer. I think when they find out they're going to be shocked," Cohen said.
Morrow police are investigating. A detective told Davis he believes the thieves may not have realized what they stole.
"We're hoping that they will leave the trailer, and the truck in a parking lot somewhere and just drive away. Maybe they think it landscaping equipment, a lawnmower," said Detective Larry Oglesby, with the Morrow Police Department.
The team says the theft has set them back for the season, even if they find the car or build another.
"That was the car we were planning on taking to Las Vegas next week," Kvapil said.
As big as a blow as this is to the team, they hope to recover it in time for next week to compete in Vegas.
Sprint Cup car stolen ahead of Sunday race
This browser does not support the video element.