LOOKING IN ON: MOTOR SPORTS

Thursday, Aug. 10, 2006 | 7:36 a.m.

Will Ferrell's NASCAR-themed movie, "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," packed theaters during its opening weekend and was first at the box office with more than $47 million in ticket sales.

Although the comedy skewers many of the sports' stereotypes, most in the NASCAR community are positively giddy about the success of the film because they believe it will bring new fans to the sport.

Chris Powell, general manager of Las Vegas Motor Speedway, isn't so sure. Although he is in the process of selling tickets to his NASCAR weekend in March, Powell didn't see the need to beef up his ticket-office staff this week.

"I think the sport has become so big and so national in scope that a movie is not going to move the needle on its popularity," he said.

"I think it's an upshot of (NASCAR's) popularity that a movie would be done - especially one that stars Will Ferrell - but I don't think we're going to see a rush on the (speedway's) ticket offices."

For the record, Powell saw "Talladega Nights" last weekend and although it "had its moments," said he is not a fan of the "crude" aspects of the film. And this from a distant relative of Ferrell; Powell said his mother and Ferrell's grandmother on his father's side are cousins.

While the Las Vegas Motor Speedway logo and its UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 race logo are featured briefly during a victory-lane celebration in "Talladega Nights," the scene was not filmed in Las Vegas. Despite his opinion of the movie, Powell said he had no objection to his speedway being depicted in it.

"I don't have a problem being affiliated with the movie - even though I'm not a fan of crudity in movies," Powell said.

The same could not be said for four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon, who told the Associated Press that he begged out of an appearance in the film after consulting with his sponsors.

"We presented it to DuPont and our other sponsors talked about it, and although I think the movie is going to be hilarious - and I don't mind laughing at things within our sport - it wasn't the type of movie that I could have been part of," Gordon said.

Powell said he has no problem with NASCAR embracing the film.

"I don't think NASCAR made a mistake in being affiliated with this movie because Will Ferrell is a star and I think there is some upside to being placed in the big leagues - and this was the big leagues of Hollywood," he said.

"I don't have a problem with that and I don't think it was a poor decision on (NASCAR's) part - even after having seen the movie."

Orleans Racing 'Gaughan?'

Orleans Racing, the Las Vegas-based racing team owned by Michael Gaughan that fields trucks for his son Brendan Gaughan in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, could be changing names soon.

The younger Gaughan confirmed this week that he and his father are exploring a more appropriate name for the team now that the family no longer has an ownership stake in the Orleans.

Michael Gaughan recently purchased the South Coast from Boyd Gaming and said he would rename the property South Point.

Number of stock cars built for the filming of "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby"

Number of active NASCAR drivers (Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jamie McMurray) who have cameo roles in the movie

"I would have liked to (have been a part of the movie) but after seeing the script, there were some moments in there that I questioned because of the type of image I like to put out for myself and DuPont and our sponsors."

Jeff Gordon

on his decision to pass up a cameo role in "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby."