Ram CEO Claims Mechanical Bull Was Stolen, but Law Enforcement Isn't Buying It
The Roadkill Nights event in Michigan brings drag racers, fans, and cars from all over the country, but this year’s event also created a good deal of friction between Ram and local law enforcement. Earlier this week, CEO Tim Kuniskis claimed that someone had stolen the automaker’s “Bucking Hemi” mechanical bull ride, but now, the local sheriff says the company never lost the bull and may pursue criminal charges over the stunt – if it was a stunt.
Kuniskis’ statement said, "This is bull****. Our Bucking Hemi was taken on Saturday evening. The search is officially on and we won’t stop searching until we get him back.” Stellantis also posted a flyer on Instagram. Carscoops and other publications have reached out to the automaker for comment on whether or not this was an intentional hoax or a mixup, but the fallout is real.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said, “The company never actually lost the bull. I find this to be very frustrating and a tremendous waste of valuable investigative time. Now, we’re pivoting to see if a crime was committed by the filing of a false police report.”
The bull debuted earlier this year at a NASCAR event to celebrate Ram’s return to the sport, and its appearance at Roadkill Nights was intended to commemorate the return of the Hemi V8 to Ram trucks.
[Images: Stellantis]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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So who's the punter with the Strat standing on the Charger (obviously doing an approximation of Hendrix playing the Start Spangled Banner)??