Speed up your raceday with popcorn and a DVD

By NASCAR.COM
June 18, 2008
12:49 PM EDT

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The summer box office season is upon us and while there isn't a NASCAR-themed flick on the marquee, that doesn't mean you can't get your stock-car fix. Think: Blockbuster. Or Netflix.

And with this week's race on the left coast -- green flag at Sonoma is 5:20 p.m. ET on TNT -- many fans will have plenty of time to get into raceday mode with a DVD.

There have been several memorable movies that revolved around racing. Two of them, Days of Thunder and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, make our list:

Plot

Days of Thunder		Talladega Nights

Cole Trickle enters the high-pressure world of NASCAR racing. He's a hot driver with a hot temper, and this attitude gets him into trouble not only with other drivers, but members of his own team as well. -- www.imdb.com		NASCAR sensation Ricky Bobby and Cal Naughton Jr. are a fearless duo -- "Shake" and "Bake" to their fans. When flamboyant French Formula One driver Jean Girard challenges for supremacy in NASCAR, Ricky Bobby must face his own demons and fight Girard for the right to be known as the top driver. -- www.imdb.com

Survey says ... Talladega Nights is so tongue-in-cheek you may choke, while Days of Thunder is widely panned by NASCAR purists. But there's no denying Cruise & Co. helped launch the sport into the stratosphere.

Quote me

Days of Thunder		Talladega Nights

"No, no, he didn't slam you, he didn't bump you, he didn't nudge you ... he rubbed you. And rubbin', son, is racin'." -- Harry Hogge		"Dear Lord Baby Jesus, I want to thank you for this wonderful meal, my two beautiful sons, Walker and Texas Ranger, and my red-hot smokin' wife, Carley ..." -- Ricky Bobby

Say what?! "Rubbin' is racin'" has become a part of the venacular, but tell us you can't hear Jeff Gordon thanking his lucky stars for Ingrid ...

Three amigos: Bill Weber, Wally Dallenbach and Benny Parsons

Ready for my close-up

Days of Thunder		Talladega Nights

Jerry Punch, Neil Bonnett, Harry Gant, Rusty Wallace, Bob Jenkins, Richard Petty • Full cast		Bob Jenkins, Bill Weber, Benny Parsons, Wally Dallenbach, Rick Benjamin, Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds, Mike Joy, Dick Berggren, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jamie McMurray • Full cast

RIP, BP. We miss Benny.

Sing along

Track	Song	Artist	Track	Song	Artist

1.	The Last Note of Freedom	David Coverdale	1.	Space Lord	Monster Magnet
2.	Deal for Life	John Waite	2.	Faithfully	Journey
3.	Break Through the Barrier	Tina Turner	3.	Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line	Waylon Jennings
4.	Hearts in Trouble	Chicago	4.	Shoot To Thrill	AC/DC
5.	Trail of Broken Hearts	Cher	5.	Valentine's Day	Steve Earle
6.	Knockin' on Heaven's Door	Guns N' Roses	6.	Click Click Boom	Saliva
7.	You Gotta Love Someone	Elton John	7.	King of the Road	Roger Miller
8.	Show Me Heaven	Maria McKee	8.	Cochise	Audioslave
9.	Thunderbox	Apollo Smile	9.	We Belong	Pat Benatar
10.	Long Live the Night	Joan Jett & The Blackhearts	10.	Gimme Three Steps	Lynyrd Skynyrd
11.	Gimme Some Lovin'	Terry Reid	11.	TNT	AC/DC
			12.	Marie Douceur / Marie Colere	Marie Laforet
			13.	Last of the Hardcore Troubadours	Steve Earle
			14.	I Feel Alright	Steve Earle

Gimme a beat: C'mon, anything with Skynyrd isn't that bad. ... The same cannot be said for Peter Cetera's Chicago.

Lady in red

Days of Thunder		Talladega Nights

Nicole Kidman -- Ranked No. 69 on FHM's 100 Sexiest Women in the World in 2005.		Leslie Bibb -- Ranked No. 51 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2008 list.

And the winner is ... The aforementioned smokin'-hot Carley, who was raised in Nelson County, Va. -- home to Wintergreen Resort, a local ski area, and location of Walton's Mountain made famous by the TV show The Waltons.

Other racing movies for rent:

• Six Pack
Diane Lane -- 'nuff said.