(Imagined) Q+A: Ricky Bobby of ‘Talladega Nights’

Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2006 | 7:24 a.m.

Last week NASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver Dave Blaney took one look at the new 20-degree banking at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and pronounced it ready to rumble.

"They did a beautiful job," Blaney said.

Today, Kurt Busch will officially christen the new turns by becoming the first driver to navigate them in a race car.

It can be assumed those guys know what they're talking about. But inquiring racing minds don't really care what the driver of the No. 22 Caterpillar Dodge thinks. Nor the driver of the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge.

They want to know what the driver of the No. 26 Wonder Bread Chevy thinks.

No, we didn't really bump into Will Ferrell, star of the top-grossing "Talladega Nights," on his way to the bank Monday afternoon.

But it's not hard to imagine what his alter ego, the great Ricky Bobby, would make of the reconfigured turns, pit lane and other changes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

So Ricky, zip up your driving suit - man, those look like Jimmy Spencer's briefs - and tell us what you think.

Woo! Las Vegas Motor Speedway is putting in high-banked turns? Help me, Jesus! Help me, Tom Cruise! Use your witchcraft to get the fire and all that boring, single-file racing off me.

I'll take that as a yes. You believe the 20-degree banking is going to improve the quality of the racing at the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 next spring, right?

Woo! Dear Lord Baby Jesus. My two beautiful sons, Walker and Texas Ranger, think it's fantastic. And my red-hot smokin' wife, Carley, thinks it's fantastic.

What about Cal Naughton, your teammate?

Woo! Shake and Bake, baby.

And Jean Girard?

Woo! He ain't gonna like it. High banks are for real men. Guys like him should just stay on the apron. Jeff Gordon, too. He wouldn't do a cameo in our movie. Said it was beneath him or somethin'.

Getting back to the track. It's going to be faster but narrower. That means more wrecks, right?

Woo! Naw, not more wrecks. Just more rubbin'. And rubbin' is racin.'

Rubbin' is racin' Wasn't that from "Days of Thunder?"

Woo! Sure was. Help me, Tom Cruise. I'll give you $20. Heck, I've got $47 million more where that came from. And just wait 'til "Talladega Nights" comes to a theater near you. I'll have $47 million more.

Last question, Ricky: Do chicks dig the high banks?

Woo! I dunno. But my red-hot smokin' wife, Carley, sure does. Woo!