“If you ain’t first, you’re last,” the legendary Ricky Bobby once said. “Talladega Nights” is one of the funniest and most recognizable motorsport films, and it has had a significant impact on how new and old NASCAR fans see the sport. Stewart-Haas Racing is honoring that tradition with a pair of vehicles that have movie sponsors.
Ryan Preece will pilot the No. 41 Wonder Bread car, and Chase Briscoe will pilot the No. 14 Old Spice vehicle, which are replicas of Ricky Bobby’s and Cal Naughton Jr.’s cars from the film. The cars in the film were Chevys, but Stewart-Haas drives Fords, but that’s a small detail in an otherwise fascinating story.
Though not exactly true for the movie, the cars will be a terrific promotional tool for NASCAR. It’s the gift that keeps on giving for our sport, and it’s provided Stewart-Haas Racing with a terrific platform to have some fun and communicate with our fans.”
The promotional vehicles will also not make their debut in any ordinary NASCAR race. This weekend, they’ll race at the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.
Motorsport crossover promotions are nothing uncommon, but movie liveries are a novel idea. NASCAR teams, like those in Formula 1 and other racing sports, frequently use branded liveries as throwbacks or homage to sponsors.
