Remember The Time Someone Stole A NASCAR Pace Car

If you look at records for the 1986 Winston 500, you’ll note some interesting facts like how Bobby Allison edged out Dale Earnhardt Sr. by a mere 0.2 seconds to take the checkered flag. You might also learn that Allison was one of the oldest drivers to ever win a NASCAR Cup Series race at the ripe old age of 48. Those are interesting facts, but they miss what’s perhaps the most memorable part of that race.

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It was when a thief took the Pontiac Trans Am pace car for a spin around Talladega Superspeedway, delaying the race’s start, which made for a truly memorable moment. After all, how many times have you seen a police pursuit in NASCAR?

Even better, the chase was caught on camera and was broadcast on ESPN. We’re sure everyone at home thought that was a bizarre way to start the Winston 500. But now it’s a quirky part of NASCAR history.

A 20-year-old guy named Darren Crowder decided to take the pace car through an interesting twist of events. Having driven to Lincoln from Birmingham, Alabama to look at a motorcycle he was interested in buying, Crowder took it for a test ride.

Eventually, he found himself in the NASCAR traffic and just followed it to the track. Somehow, he was able to slip through security and into the infield where he got his hands on the Pontiac Trans Am pace car and took off, hitting the track at a pretty good clip.

As Crowder continued piloting the pace car around the oval, police on motorcycles and in a cruiser were in pursuit. They didn’t push it, but instead just tried keeping a good following distance just in case the guy tried leaving the track behind, we’re sure.

It was the track officials who ultimately caught the pace car thief. They set up a roadblock on the track, forcing the guy to slow and stop. Once he did, they pulled Crowder out of the vehicle just as police pulled up.

Image via KK3869/YouTube