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When it comes to choosing the best racing movies of all-time there is no shortage of films from which to pick. There is also numerous types of racing movies: comedies, biopics, fictional dramas, documentaries, so picking just one isn’t easy. One racing-themed film that definitely won’t make it to the top of NASCAR star Kyle Larson’s list, however, is the 2006 film starring Will Ferrell, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.
Best racing movie of all-time?
During an appearance on the Games with Names podcast with Julian Edelman this week, Kyle Larson was asked, “What’s the best racing movie of all-time?”
“Days of Thunder,” Larson was quick to answer. “Senna is a great movie, like the documentary one of Senna. Ayrton Senna? Formula One? You have to watch it. It’s really good.”
Kyle Larson also agreed with Julian Edelman that the movie Rush about James Hunt and Niki Lauda was good, but then he was asked, “Do you guys like Talladega Nights? Is that movie funny or is that dumb for you guys?”
“I mean, I like the movie,” Larson responded. “I think it did not do anything good for our sport. I think it turned our sport into a joke, unfortunately. But that’s gotta be one of the most popular racing movies … I feel like the rest of the world, that’s what they think about our sport now.”
His teammate agrees
Kyle Larson is obviously not alone in thinking that Talladega Nights doesn’t do anything to help NASCAR’s image. William Byron, who is one of Larson’ teammates in the Cup Series, wrote on X (Twitter) in response to Larson’s comments, “100%. Should not be the first thing people think of.”
Larson and Byron’s comments are interesting. There have been an untold number of comedy movies that have centered on various sports over the years: Happy Gilmore, Major League, Kingpin, Slap Shot, 80 for Brady… and none of them seem to upset players in those sports the way Talladega Nights seems to have affected NASCAR drivers.