Kyle Larson’s Thoughts on Racing Films

NASCAR driver Kyle Larson has a notable fondness for racing movies, yet he harbors some reservations about one particular comedy.

This week, during an appearance on Julian Edelman’s podcast, The Named Games, he shared insights into his favorite racing films, naming “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” as a standout.

However, Larson expressed concern that this film may have negatively impacted the sport. “I mean, I love movies,” he mentioned. “I think it did nothing for our sport. Unfortunately, I think it turned our sport into a joke. But it’s one of the most popular racing films… I feel like the rest of the world views it that way.”

“Talladega Nights” features the fictional character Ricky Bobby, a NASCAR driver trying to reclaim his status in the racing world. While fans have given the film a 73% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Larson isn’t alone in believing the film doesn’t truly represent the sport.

In a separate commentary, racer Bubba Wallace also criticized the film’s portrayal of racing. On the “Rubbin’ Is Racing” podcast, he reflected on his initial reactions to the movie. “Bad. That’s not like a good racing movie,” he stated. “It’s just a comedy. I remember watching it in high school and thinking, ‘They’re teasing our sport.’ But now I’ve seen it so many times, and some scenes are funny… but it’s Will Ferrell.”

Despite the critiques, Larson and Wallace agree that while the film may have comedic elements, it doesn’t accurately reflect the passion and seriousness of racing.