“Shake and Bake!” That’s the motto of arguably one of the most infamous NASCAR drivers – Ricky Bobby. Though fictional, he needs no introduction. Will Ferrell’s iconic portrayal in the hit film “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” will always be remembered, whether for his antics off the track or his incredible skill behind the wheel. Members of the Stewart-Haas Racing team certainly haven’t forgotten him, and they see a version of him in their teammate.

While Chase Briscoe was noticeably absent from Stewart-Haas Racing’s latest Instagram video, his teammates jokingly think he embodies the Ricky Bobby lifestyle.

Is Chase Briscoe similar to Ricky Bobby?

It wasn’t long ago that Ricky Bobby made his infamous return to NASCAR, not in a sequel or as a guest appearance, but the character’s beloved cars were brought back to life. In 2023, as part of marketing for the Talladega race, Chase Briscoe and Ryan Preece unveiled liveries inspired by Ricky Bobby and his teammate, Cal Naughton Jr. Ironically, Briscoe drove Naughton Jr.’s Old Spice-sponsored car at the time. Fast forward to a year later, and Briscoe’s Stewart-Haas Racing teammates believe he bears a striking resemblance to Ricky Bobby, surpassing most fans’ initial expectations.

With Talladega on NASCAR’s schedule for the coming weekend, Ricky Bobby was bound to come up. The movie and its character have become synonymous with Talladega ever since its release in 2006. Stewart-Haas Racing, the team that brought Bobby’s spirit back to NASCAR last year, devised a special game for their drivers. The game consisted of a set of questions based on the movie, where drivers were to choose which teammate best fits each description.

When it came time to answer the question about the Ricky Bobby lifestyle- Josh Berry, Noah Gragson, and Ryan Preece named Chase Briscoe without skipping a beat. “He’s got the cars, he’s got the nice crib. He’s got the kids running around the house. Probably eats Taco Bell for dinner,” Gragson said. In a way, he sums it up well enough. Briscoe’s home in the heart of NASCAR country, North Carolina, is one of the most luxurious homes money can buy. Similar to Bobby’s mansion in the movie, it sits by a body of water, as Briscoe chose to build a massive pond in his backyard.

Chase Briscoe seems to fit all the categories. As fans also pointed out in the comments of the Instagram post, Briscoe will soon have three kids running around the house, as his wife, Marissa, is pregnant with twins and nearing her due date. Just a day before the first round of the 12-race playoff in Kansas, Chase and Marissa rushed to the hospital, thinking their twins were arriving, but it proved to be a false alarm. Briscoe had to return to Kansas for the race, admitting that if he weren’t in contention for the championship, he wouldn’t have participated and would have stayed with his wife instead. Currently, Briscoe could use some of Ricky Bobby’s luck, as he stands outside the cutoff line in 11th place. A strong finish in Talladega would be poetic, given Stewart-Haas Racing’s and the driver’s affection for the movie.

In its entirety, “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” remains a beloved part of the NASCAR community. The film delivered Will Ferrell one of his biggest hits and immortalized his character in the minds of fans. Moreover, there’s no harm in a satirical-comedic take on the chaotic world of NASCAR, right? However, Shane van Gisbergen thinks there’s no harm in the movie, but he’s not entirely convinced about its satirical intent.

Shane van Gisbergen unveils new layer to Talladega Nights movie

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Shane van Gisbergen turned into a massive sensation in NASCAR after his move into the American racing league. Apart from getting used to the rougher style of racing compared to European open-wheel racing, there was another shock that waited for the Red Bull-sponsored driver. SVG finally managed to watch Will Ferrell’s ‘The Ballad of Ricky Bobby’ and had a massive realization, as he explained. Some parts of the movie were more real than satire.

It wasn’t that Ricky Bobby’s story was based on a real driver. It was just that one part of Bobby’s lifestyle, particularly the lavish mansion, that was something SVG observed holds true for most drivers on the grid. He explained, “Man, there’s so many things. But I guess ‘Talladega Nights’ is not a comedy, it’s a documentary. It’s crazy, like, around this area, everybody’s got the massive house, and the way it all is, it’s so crazy.” 

Add on to that Kevin Harvick‘s purchase of the Ricky Bobby mansion in 2014, and SVG’s comments start to make sense. Right before heading into his final season in NASCAR, Harvick saw the mansion used in the movie and bought it for $6.75 million. The property located on the shore of Lake Norman is in North Carolina, a popular choice for drivers. So the question is, why do drivers usually end up buying mansions specifically in North Carolina?

North Carolina, the birthplace of NASCAR, hosted the sport’s first races nearly a century ago. Consequently, it’s no surprise that most top drivers, including Chase Briscoe and Martin Truex Jr, own homes in the state. So, instead of staying in hotels during race season, NASCAR drivers can return to their North Carolina residences with their families. Competing at the highest level of American stock car racing comes with its perks, and these drivers are reaping the rewards of decades of hard work and dedication.

Whether Talladega Nights is just a comedy movie or contains specks of truth remains debatable. However, what fans and NASCAR teams agree on is the movie’s place in history. In its own light-hearted way, it reminded fans of the highs and lows a NASCAR driver faces, and the sheer resilience to deal with it.