NASCAR Heist -- Race Car Thieves Caught On Camera


EXCLUSIVE


022715_nascar_launch_v2 NASCAR driver Travis Kvapil's #44 ride was jacked from a hotel parking lot -- and TMZ Sports obtained surveillance video of the heist.


The car and the truck that hauls it were both stolen out of the Drury Inn parking lot outside Atlanta -- and in the video you can see a Jeep SUV pull into the lot. One person dressed in black gets out of the Jeep, walks across the lot toward the transport trailer ... and the Jeep pulls away.


Next thing you see is the white transport trailer ... hauled by a black pickup truck ... tearing across the lot. Law enforcement sources tell us the GTA went down around 5 AM Friday -- and took less than a minute. So far cops have no leads on the suspects, but they're hoping this video will shed some light.


Kvapil's team was forced to pull out of this weekend's Sprint Cup race in Atlanta. It's a small independent team, and they don't have a backup car.


Team owner John Cohen tells TMZ Sports ... "Last night I was thinking, I should tell them to block the truck off [with another vehicle]. But I didn't say anything, and it got stolen." He says he doesn't think the crooks even knew what they were stealing since there are no identifying marks on the trailer.


He adds ... "I'm hoping they return it once they see what's inside. What can they do with a racecar?"


0227-nascar-stolen-car-SUB-01


For more sports stories, check out tmzsports.com!

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TMZ Live: Lupita Nyong'o's Gown ... Gone Without a Trace


Lupita's Gown ...


Gone Without a Trace


2/27/2015 9:45 AM PST BY TMZ STAFF



In-Post-TMZLivelogo


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ON TODAY'S SHOW




  • Jennifer Lawrence's Showdown with Director

  • Zendaya Drops Her Dreadlocks

  • Kanye Tries to Block Beck & Taylor in Court

  • Justin Bieber's New Mansion in the Hills






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Leonard Nimoy Dead -- Lived Long, Prospered ... Dies from COPD

Lived Long, Prospered


... Dies from COPD



breaking news


0227-leonard-nimoy-gety-01


Leonard Nimoy, who famously played Dr. Spock, died at home Friday morning in Bel Air... after battling chronic pulmonary disease.


The "Stark Trek" star announced last year that he was battling the disease and atrributed it to years and years of smoking. He had given up the habit 30 years ago.


TMZ broke the story ... Nimoy checked into UCLA Medical Center last week for intense chest pains -- but was eventually released.


Nimoy started playing in 1966 ... and continued in the role through several movies.


He was 83.



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Guess Who This Little Soccer Stud Turned Into!


0226_soccer_stud_guess_who_launch Before this pint-sized Pelé was a famous international athlete he was just another cool little kid posing for his soccer photos in Kettering, Ohio. Can you guess who he is?!



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Lupita Nyong'o -- My Pearl Oscar Gown Got Jacked! (TMZ TV)


TMZ TV


022615_tv_tune_in_lupita_nyongo_launch_v4 Lupita Nyong'o's pearl Oscar dress got a ton of attention at the award show -- and also back in her hotel room ... where someone stole the damn thing!


The gown's worth $150K, but you might see it on Craigslist for $99 soon ... if cops can't find it.tmz-on-tv-3



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Justin Bieber -- Back to the Hills ... of Beverly, That Is (PHOTOS)

Back to the Hills


... Of Beverly, That Is [PHOTOS]



breaking news


0226_justin_bieber_bev_hills_home_launch Call the moving trucks -- Justin Bieber 's settling into ANOTHER new mansion ... and he'll once again be balling in Beverly Hills.


Bieber just moved into the 5 bedroom, 6 bath crib that has a couple of things we know he loves -- sweeping city views and graffiti art.


JB's still just renting ... the 6,000 sq-ft pad was listed at $35,000 per month! It's a major bargain over the $60K/month for the glass palace, near Bev Hills, he moved into in December.


As for the graffiti -- check out the gallery to see what's on Justin's walls. This is the 3rd home he's rented since moving out of his house he owned in Calabasas.


Rolling stones gather no moss.



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Arizona Llama Chase -- Potential Spit and Run ... On Live TV (VIDEO)


022615_llama_launch L.A.'s famous car chases just got put to shame -- by a couple of wild and crazy llamas on the loose in Arizona.


The suspects were wandering around the Sun City retirement community outside Phoenix -- and they managed to hold their would-be-captors at bay for about 45 minutes. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Department even had to get involved.


The llamas -- one black, one white and unarmed -- were eventually rounded up ... actually lassoed ... live on television.


Far as we can tell ... no one got spit on during the chase -- but that would've been awesome.



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