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NASCAR and Hollywood are not strangers. Nearly every NASCAR fan worth their salt has seen Days of Thunder at least once. But finding a good quality NASCAR-themed movie can be a real challenge. I mean, I like Talladega Nights as much as the next guy but is it a good representation of what NASCAR is? No, I don’t think so. Not like the aforementioned Days of Thunder, which was heavily inspired by the real-life rivalry between Dale Earnhardt and Geoffery Bodine. Maybe that’s why it feels so real until Talladega Nights which just feels like a never-ending punchline.
I liked the original Cars movie but I’ll admit that it was pretty childish. With it being my nephew’s favorite movie, I can officially say that I’ve seen it too many times. I dug The Crew show on Netflix but I think I’m in the minority there. So, what would make a good NASCAR movie? I have my own opinion and I’ll share it with you in just a moment. But first, leave it to NASCAR fans on Reddit to throw out some pretty awesome pitches!
Right out of the gates, karlbon03 suggests a movie about Alan Kulwicki. From humble beginnings as a car owner to greatest triumph, to one of the biggest tragedies that will go down in NASCAR infamy. I can see that and it would be a good one!
CaptainRon16 suggests a feature film about Bobby Allison. That would be a great one, too.
How about a duology HBO series about these two very significant seasons in NASCAR history? The storylines would be so rich! 1992 had the best championship battle in NASCAR history (and, as I’m sure our friend the Iceberg would love to point out, it was WAY before the chase/playoffs were every implemented) and 2001 is a great comeback story.
NobleJaguar293 seconds the 1992 concept and Saucy_Snakeberry casts Mark Wahlburg as the lead. That would be pretty freaking awesome!
Mark Martin would make a fantastic movie for sure. I have listened to his podcast. There are the bones for a great script right there!
Jeremy Mayfield’s story would be an interesting one. Maybe it would work better as a fictionalized account rather than a biopic.
This might make a good movie, TheyCallMeSawyer! There’s already a great S1apSh0es video on the matter:
Hmm…maybe Mr. H has some explaining to do?
Ha! What do you think, Daily Downforce readers? Who would make the worst NASCAR movie?
Tim Richmond? Dilligent-builder740 might just be on to something!
Absolutely! If Kurt comes back, that would make a helluva story on its own but…what if he wins!?
Now, let me take just another moment of your time to describe what I think would be a great NASCAR themed movie. I’m a fiction writer by trade. That’s my comfort area. So, I’m going to lean more in that direction.
I have an idea for a great NASCAR themed novel (or maybe a novella?) that I might actually write someday so I don’t really want to talk too much about it. It would be a suspense, thriller, horror story, I think. But my ideal NASCAR movie is one that is fictional but has its roots planted firmly in reality, like Days of Thunder.
So, I would like to take Martin Truex’s story and create a fictional character similar to him and tell a story about his entire career. From his rise in the lower ranks of NASCAR to becoming the top dog at a severely struggling team after that team’s franchise driver left. From struggling at a new team and losing sponsorship due to cheating that was out of his control and having to rebuild his entire career with an underfunded team, to taking that underfunded team, developing it, and winning a championship with it.
In my version of the story, Furniture Row would have never closed down and there would have been a falling out between the head folks there and the brass at Joe Gibbs Racing. In my version, Truex would have stayed independent from there on out with the team, winning a second championship, and struggling at the end of his career like drivers of a certain age tend to do. But that’s just me and the concept I draw from what really happened.
I think the perfect NASCAR movie is one with a ton of drama, maybe a little bit of suspense, and none of the goofy humor that Will Farrell movies tend to attract. If NASCAR wants to be taken seriously, their movies should be taken seriously.
What do you all think, Daily Downforce family? Do any of these do it for you? Let us know!
