Cup Series teams head to Talladega Superspeedway this weekend to continue the playoffs. Stewart-Haas Racing is celebrating the trip by going full "Talladega Nights."
The team previously announced that Ryan Preece would bring back the Wonder Bread car made famous by the 2006 Will Ferrell comedy film, so it was only fitting that the current "Ricky Bobby" film a series of public service announcements and commercials with his fellow drivers.
This montage featured Preece, Josh Berry, and Noah Gragson. The trio of drivers quoted some lines directly from "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby." They also updated some lines to feature their current sponsors, such as Mobil 1.
For example, both montages include conversations about snow blindness in cats and the packs of wild dogs controlling most of the major cities in North America.
If you don’t watch these commercials, then you got something wrong with your head. pic.twitter.com/5sXYP5iVTx
— Stewart-Haas Racing (@StewartHaasRcng) October 2, 2024
One prominent example was a line from Ferrell's character, who said, "We've all wondered what gasoline tastes like. Don't drink it."
Cal Naughton Jr., John C. Reilly's character, then chipped in by telling viewers that, "Fire safety begins in your brain at home."
The updated versions of the quotes focused on SHR's official motor oil partner. For example, Berry said, "Motor oil safety begins in your brain at home" instead of fire safety.
"We've all wondered what Mobil 1 is tasted like," Berry said in the SHR video. "Don't drink it. It's the law."
Preece and Gragson were able to keep straight faces while filming their commercials, but it was a different story for Berry. The driver of the No. 4 had to repeat multiple lines after laughing his way through early takes. This was particularly true for the conversation about packs of stray dogs.
This weekend's race is not the first time that Stewart-Haas Racing drivers have channeled the characters from "Talladega Nights." Preece and Chase Briscoe also did so last season while running schemes from the film.
Ryan “Ricky Bobby” Preece vs. Chase “Cal Naughton Jr.” Briscoe.
Who did it better? pic.twitter.com/JXPFEJ1ZJm
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 3, 2024
Preece had Wonder Bread as his primary sponsor, which made him Ricky Bobby. The veteran driver embraced this role while recreating interview scenes from the film.
Briscoe had Old Spice as the primary sponsor on his No. 14 Ford, so he became Cal Naughton Jr. He shaved his facial hair to match Reilly's character from the film, and he did the "Magic Man" motions during driver intros.