A Pennsylvania man is facing multiple criminal charges after authorities say he fraudulently titled and sold a retired NASCAR race truck by falsely claiming it was street legal.
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According to Pennsylvania State Police, Yancy Cupp, 52, purchased a retired NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series vehicle before allegedly installing a fraudulent vehicle identification number (VIN) taken from an unrelated vehicle.
Investigators say Cupp then used that VIN to obtain a Pennsylvania title for the truck, even though the former race vehicle had never been issued a valid title or VIN in any state.
Police allege Cupp later listed the truck on eBay as a 1999 Chevrolet S-10, claiming it had been converted for legal road use by its previous NASCAR owner.
According to investigators, that former owner denied making the conversion, and a subsequent inspection determined the truck was not street legal.
Authorities say the vehicle was later sold for $10,000 at the Carlisle Auto Auction.
The truck is believed to have previously competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, with auction records identifying it as a former race vehicle driven by owner-driver Norm Benning.
Cupp now faces numerous charges, including theft by deception, forgery, alteration of a vehicle identification number, deceptive business practices and tampering with public records, according to court records.
He is scheduled to be formally arraigned in Cumberland County Court on Aug. 10.
While retired stock cars can legally be converted for road use, authorities say the process requires extensive modifications and the proper assignment of a valid VIN before they can be titled and driven on public roads.
