Filmstudion

There’s something about the NASCAR phenomenon that provokes strong reactionseither positive or negativein almost everyone it touches. Some consider it the ultimate sport, while others see it as too dangerous or too uncontrollable. This selection of films isn’t tied specifically to NASCAR, but rather to the primal thrill of auto racing, and its relation to the American Dream.1. Two-Lane Blacktop (1971): Monte Hellman’s cult classic stars James Taylor, Dennis Wilson, and Warren Oates, along with Laurie Bird as The Girl. The plot involves two racers (Wilson and Taylor) who make their living drifting across the country and challenging residents to races. Along the way, they pick up a beautiful hitchhiker (Bird) and are challenged to a cross-country race by GTO (Oates, named for the 1970 GTO Judge that he drives).2. Days of Thunder (1990): Real-life paramours Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman made the screen sparkle in this often-maligned film. While it does go over the top in its presentation of NASCAR racing, isn’t that the whole point? Real-life racers Rusty Wallace, Neil Bonnett, and Harry Gant all make appearances. Cruise plays Cole Trickle, a young racer recruited by a car dealership owner to race in the Winston Cup. Kidman is the attractive neurosurgeon who nurses Trickle back to health after an injury.3. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006): When the stress of the race becomes too much, sometimes you just have to laugh. Talladega Nights helped us do just that with its story of a hot-shot NASCAR cowboy (Will Ferrell) drawn into a rivalry with a cultured Formula One driver (Sacha Baron Cohen). Besides giving us the classic line, “If you ain’t first, you’re last,” Talladega Nights also presents such classic scenes as a training session with a cougar in the backseat, and a family reunion that turns sour at a local Applebee’s.4. No Man’s Land (1987): D.B. Sweeney stars as an undercover cop on the trail of a gang stealing Porsches. The leader is played by a young and devilishly charismatic Charlie Sheen. Sweeney’s character strikes up a friendship with the young gang member, while also falling in love with the leader’s sister. A blend of high-stakes action and romance, racing in this film is a dark but exciting event, controlling life and death. Sounds just like the real thing to us.5. Thunder Alley (1967): This early racing picture was released almost twenty years after NASCAR was founded. A race car driver leaves the sport after unintentionally killing another racer, and becomes a mentor to a new young racer. The film stars Annette Funicello and Fabian and is a glamorous depiction of racing’s melodrama and romance. Thunder Alley‘s plot may be dated, but as a historical look at the racing phenomenon, it’s an excellent way to spend 90 minutes. If you want to include some high-action camp in your night, feel free to choose from any of the Fast and the Furious film series. Don’t say we didn’t warn you, though.