Having not seen the movie yet, I can only guess that it pokes fun at the sport, it’s Southern heritage, red neck, beer drinking fans and a few choice names (the lead character played by Ferrell goes by the name of Ricky Bobby, need I say more?). Somebody needs to put the front bumper to Ferrell, wake him up and inform him it’s 2006. I’m also pretty sure that Ferrell’s character will be an egotistical, self serving, self centered creep. This isn’t really a stretch; he plays the same character in almost every movie he’s made, maybe he’s not even acting! For those of you new-to-the-sport, here’s a little inside scoop, real NASCAR drivers and the entire NASCAR “family” are all very generous and caring people, the polar opposite to Ricky Bobby. NASCAR drivers and their families support financially, countless charities and charity events. Many drivers (Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Kyle Petty) even have their own charity foundations.

In the movie Ricky and his best friend Cal Naughton Jr. (they just had to get a Junior in there) apparently gang up against the French rookie (Ricky’s teammate) to win races and presumably the championship. Again this makes me wonder, is this a message NASCAR wanted to send when they waved the green flag to make this movie? I’m not sure, but doesn’t this border on discrimination? I was under the impression NASCAR had a diversity program in place to attract people from anywhere and from all walks of life. In recent years NASCAR has had woman, Japanese, Canadians, Mexicans and African American drivers. So why allow this into the movie? Does NASCAR think this is good comedy? Or, is NASCAR trying to make a political statement, because Americans are dissatisfied with the way France has conducted itself in regard to the war in Iraq?

Another thing that confuses me; is NASCAR suggesting that ganging up on your opponent by taking them out of the race is okay? If this movie truly represents NASCAR, the boys will be hauled into the big white NASCAR trailer after the race, where fines and suspensions will be handed out. Not!