NASCAR star says Talladega Nights 'did not do the sport any good'
Over the course of a 90-minute conversation with NFL legend Julian Edelmen, which took place on the former New England Patriot's podcast, Kyle Larson did not mince words over his feelings about Talladega Nights.
First, with an hour and a half of runtime, the conversation was wide-ranging but took a turn towards movies with Larson naming Days of Thunder as his favorite film about NASCAR. The 1990 film starring Tom Cruise and directed by Tony Scott is a cult classic amongst Stock Car fans even amidst some less than accurate stereotypes.
However, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby staring Will Ferrell and written by Adam McKay is not something the 2021 Cup Series champion holds in high regard whatsoever,
"I mean, I like the movie," said Larson. "I think it did not do anything good for our sport. I think it turned our sport into a joke, unfortunately. But that is one of the most popular racing movies ... I feel like the rest of the world -- that's what they think about our sport now."
Larson prefers serious motorsports media like the Ayrton Senna documentary, which he called 'a great movie' and 'really good.'
His teammate, two-time Daytona 500 winner William Byron, echoed his sentiments.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Recapping Day 13 of Chicago Bears training camp
The Chicago Bears were back at Halas Hall for their 13th training camp practice, and there were some headlines and standouts from a non-padded workout. The Bears had a lighter practice after Tuesday's padded session as they prepare to welcome the Miami Dolphins for a joint practice on Friday. There weren't a whole lot of takeaways from this session, where Ben Johnson's trickeration was both good and bad. Although, the end to Thursday's practice certainly seemed fun as some offensive players went to defense and some defensive players switched it up to offense. Let's recap Day 13 of Bears training camp: What we learned The Bears wrapped a lighter practice on Thursday ahead of the Dolphins coming to town for a joint practice on Friday. But that doesn't mean they didn't have some fun. During the final period of practice, head coach Ben Johnson decided to play around with moving guys around -- and it's not just offensive linemen catching passes. Johnson put some offensive guys on defense and some defensive guys on offense for the final rep of 11-on-11. According to Nicholas Moreano, quarterback Caleb Williams led the defense as the offense. Facing third-and-5, William completed a pass to cornerback Nick McCloud, with Olamide Zaccheaus in coverage, to get the first down. The offense's punishment? Push ups. The Bears got great news with the return of tight end Cole Kmet, who exited Tuesday's practice with an apparent injury. Unfortunately, there were two other key starters who exited Thursday's practice early: Cornerback Kyler Gordon and right tackle Darnell Wright. According to Scott Bair, Gordon was spotted heading to the locker room and didn't return to practice. The Bears have a deep cornerback group, but they're potentially down their top two corners in Jaylon Johnson and Gordon. Johnson suffered a leg injury while training before camp kicked into gear. Meanwhile, according to Brad Biggs, Wright "came up awkward" during the final team period of Thursday's non-padded practice. Wright is the lone returning starter from last year's disastrous offensive line, and the former first-round pick is entering his third season where he's looking to take another step forward. The Bears starting offense has had its struggles during the two-minute offense at times this summer, but they had a successful attempt on Thursday. According to Greg Braggs, quarterback Caleb Williams led the first-team offense into field goal position where the operations and snaps were clean and everyone was organized at the line of scrimmage. Williams connected with wide receiver Rome Odunze a couple of times while also finding receiver Olamide Zaccheaus. Rookie tight end Colston Loveland continues to make plays during training camp, and it's not even a surprise anymore. Mark Carman noted that it was another day of Loveland catching multiple balls out on the field, which included a completion on a "side arm missile" from quarterback Caleb Williams. Greg Braggs said that Loveland "makes at least one nice play every day of practice." 670 the Score's Chris Emma said Loveland "doesn't look a tight end. He doesn't even look like a wide receiver. He's a mismatch out there. He's such a natural route-runner. You see his ability to separate from a defender." Loveland has had immediate success during practice, and the hope is that translates to the field. It's even more impressive considering Loveland didn't participate in any of the offseason program as he rehabbed from shoulder surgery. Veteran defensive end Montez Sweat has been having a quietly, dominant training camp, where he continues to challenge right tackle Darnell Wright. According to 79th & Halas Podcast, has gotten the best of Wright during Thursday's practice. "In a game, he'd probably strip sack Caleb." Sweat has been a problem for opposing tackles throughout training camp, and he's also making Wright better. It's clear Sweat is healthy and ready to get after opposing quarterbacks this season. The battle for the starting left tackle job rages on between veteran Braxton Jones and rookie Ozzy Trapilo. Today, it was Jones' turn to start with the first-team offense, but Trapilo did rotate in every other team period. It certainly sounds like Jones is getting healthier, as Mark Carman noted, and he had some "physical blocks" during Thursday's practice. But he did face some challenges from defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo, who beat Jones on back-to-back plays, according to Greg Braggs, showing "impressive burst at the snap." Although, Jones bested defensive end Austin Booker during his rep with the second-team offense. Friday's practice will be a big one as Chicago welcomes Miami to town. Whoever is starting with the first-team offense could have the edge, although the expectation is both Jones and Trapilo will get reps with the starters. Standouts HC Ben Johnson: After Tuesday's intense practice, things were a bit quieter on Thursday. The Bears didn't practice in pads and weren't going at full speed. Still, head coach Ben Johnson made his mark on this practice with some of the drills he had his players doing. Near the end of the session, Johnson added a fun wrinkle by putting defensive players on offense and offensive players on defense. D'Andre Swift was at linebacker, Joe Thuney was playing defensive tackle, and Tremaine Edmunds was the halfback during some interesting and entertaining plays. That's the balance Johnson is striking in these camp practices. One day, it's a physical practice with more hitting than people can remember. The next, players are literally switching positions. DE Dayo Odeyingbo: Even though the pads weren't on, offensive and defensive linemen still got after it on Thursday. That included defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo, who had a few nice reps against the tackle he was going against. According to CHGO's Greg Braggs Jr., Odeyingbo got past Braxton Jones multiple times to get to the ball carrier. Both plays came in team drills, and while one of the reps still resulted in a big gain by Swift, it's good to see one of the prized free agents make his presence felt. DE Montez Sweat: It doesn't matter if the Bears are practicing in full pads or in shells because Montez Sweat will make a big play one way or another. Sweat has been a mainstay on our standout lists throughout camp, and he showed why yet again on Thursday. According to the 79th and Halas Podcast, Sweat was giving fits to tackle Darnell Wright all day and likely would have gotten a strip sack of Williams in a live setting. Sweat has had a tremendous camp up to this point and has earned the praise of the front office over the course of the entire offseason. All of it is shaping up to be a big year for No. 98. Injury updates The good news is the Bears did get back tight end Cole Kmet, who avoided an injury after leaving Tuesday's practice. But cornerback Kyler Gordon and dright tackle Darnell Wright did exit Thursday's workout, and their statuses are unknown. We should know come Friday's joint practice. Meanwhile, the Bears announced that running back Roschon Johnson and center Doug Kramer are nursing foot injuries. Also sidelined, per Dan Wiederer: Offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie, cornerback Zah Frazier, defensive tackle Shemar Turner, offensive lineman Bill Murray and wide receiver Miles Boykin. Highlights Press conferences What's next The Bears will host the Miami Dolphins for a joint training camp practice on Friday morning at 10:30 a.m. CT. It will be open to fans. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Chicago Bears training camp: Recapping Day 13
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
My boyfriend told me that he didn't want to get married again. Dealbreaker?
What a jerk, I thought, after Clark yelled at me again to pull faster on the sailboat's lines to keep pace with the changes of the wind as we headed to open water from Marina del Rey. 'I'm never going on another date with this guy again!' But what do I know about sailing? Although I grew up in the Great Lakes region, I'd never sailed before and didn't realize there are no passengers on a sailboat — only crew. I'd just moved to Los Angeles from Detroit after leaving a first-job stint in Switzerland. Both places were too cold for me, so no wonder L.A. was irresistible. Every January the nationally televised Rose Parade proved that even winters would reliably be 72 degrees and sunny. L.A. was the place where this Motown gal believed her dreams of new beginnings with happy endings could come true. I met Clark on Venice Beach. And, no, he wasn't a weightlifter, chainsaw juggler or a magician like the other familiar fixtures on the Venice boardwalk. When he emerged from the ocean surf with his boogie board under his arm and aimed his 1000-watt smile at me watching him from my towel on the sand, I mused, 'Oh, yeah, these West Coast boys are alright.' Read more: L.A. Affairs: I knew what I wanted to enrich and sweeten my life. I was seeking ethical nonmonogamy Our first date after that meet-cute was an afternoon of sailing the next week. Before the rendezvous with Clark at the boathouse, I'd treated myself to a manicure. Big mistake! I soon learned that it's impossible to tug on the 'ropes' of sails with just the tips of my fingers to vainly try to protect my fresh mani. Clark didn't appreciate the nails; he shouted maneuvering commands that clearly conveyed his priorities were solely pragmatic. After the debacle of our initial outing, Clark reactivated his charm, so I gave him another chance, and we dated again and again. A picnic and concert under the Hollywood Bowl stars. The Pantages Theatre for a Broadway show. Lobster dinner in Puerto Nuevo — a long drive to Mexico, but worth it. Clark continued to captivate me with his wry observations about the world, his inclination to be a jokester and even the goofy gifts intended to show he was a romantic at heart. I'm sorry to say that the six-pack Valentine's gift of engine oil for my hemorrhaging VW didn't quite make the cut. However, roses on my birthday, coinciding with the anniversary of our infamous sailing date and our exchanges of "I love you," did endear him to me. Two years into our monogamous dating, I wondered where we were headed. I'd never been in a steady relationship that lasted more than six months — until now. He'd been married before, for less than two years. And yet I was afraid to bring up the topic of marriage in case the answer precipitated one more casualty in my portfolio of failed romances. Until one Sunday night. After spending another consecutive weekend with Clark at his place, I was dreading my usual return drive home over the Sepulveda Pass and into the Valley. Somehow the burning need to just know what his intentions might be gave me the courage to pop the question: 'Do you think you'll ever get married again?' His reply crushed me. 'You know I was married once, but that didn't work out. It hurt to uncouple our lives from our dreams.' He paused. 'And now you are my special love. I couldn't be happier with our relationship, and everything is wonderful just as it is. But ... no, I don't want to marry again.' Read more: L.A. Affairs: He was kind and rich. His expensive gifts hinted at something darker I felt dizzy from the visceral ringing in my ears as all I heard over and over was 'no.' I don't remember exactly what either of us said after that, but I was clear about what I wanted: I wanted to be married to him, my best friend. Not now, but someday I wanted to introduce him as more than the man I dated. I couldn't detach my dreams from the day-to-day connections we had already built. And if I'd never be his wife, then it wasn't enough. It was over for me. I drove mindlessly toward home. I replayed the breakup again and again as West Los Angeles retreated farther and farther away. Somehow I made it safely to the little bungalow I shared with Heather, my rescue cat. I hugged her close, thinking now she would see more of me on the weekends because Clark had been too allergic to cats to stay at my place. Reality hit, hard: He would no longer be part of my life. Determined to put the weekend behind me, the next morning I prepared for another busy Monday of seeing patients. I walked briskly into the office, but the cheerful dentist I worked for took one look at my face with my eyes puffy from crying and asked, 'What happened to you?' Sniffling, I shared how and why I had broken up with Clark. My boss shrugged and quoted an old saying: 'No need to buy the cow when the milk is free.' Gee, thanks for that. Read more: L.A. Affairs: My dog bit my date. Would I hear from him again? As I was leaving for lunch at home, Dr. Happy Sayings bolted from his office and called out, 'You can't go! Clark is coming over.' Before I could react, Clark was there, beckoning me outside. As he took me in his arms, my tears started anew. He begged me to stop crying and explained that he had never thought about marrying again until I surprised him by asking if he ever would. Clark admitted that if being married was what it would take to spend the rest of his life with me, then yes — someday, yes, we would marry. That promise was enough for me, as another year passed without a wedding. When I was accepted into graduate school at UCLA, I retired as a dental hygienist and moved in with Clark. Heather moved in with an allergy-free Englishman in San Pedro, where she lived happily ever after. My happily ever after started soon enough. My first year as an MBA student was a gold mine of entertainment as I regaled Clark with tales of the hookups between classmates. Later I joked that he couldn't slip an engagement ring onto my finger fast enough. I also teased him that he had waited until he was certain I landed a good job post-graduation before setting the wedding date. We decided to forgo traditional nuptials in favor of a civil ceremony, splurging instead on an extended celebratory trip in Europe. Read more: L.A. Affairs: I boldly gave a fun, mysterious guy my number. Could I refrain from Googling him later? That summer my memories of the frosty winter when I'd worked in Switzerland faded with Clark by my side. Everywhere felt warm with bonhomie as the locals wished us an Ausgezeichnete Hochzeitsreise, or Excellent Honeymoon. From an outdoor terrace in a lakeside Alpine village, we watched catamarans and windsurfers lean into the wind and fly across the water below. Clark held me close and asked if I'd like to go sailing. I just grinned and answered, 'No, I don't think so. ... Everything is wonderful, just as it is.' The author, who lives in Culver City, is still married to the erstwhile sailor, but she now sculls at UCLA's Marina Aquatics Center. She returned to her alma mater as an executive coach for MBA students at the UCLA Anderson School of Management. She writes a weekly column for them about the ups and downs of careers and leadership. You can find her on LinkedIn at L.A. Affairs chronicles the search for romantic love in all its glorious expressions in the L.A. area, and we want to hear your true story. We pay $400 for a published essay. Email LAAffairs@ You can find submission guidelines here. You can find past columns here. Sign up for The Wild newsletter to get weekly insider tips on the best of our beaches, trails, parks, deserts, forests and mountains. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Athletics at Orioles Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for August 8
Its Friday, August 8 and the Athletics (51-66) are in Baltimore to open a series against the Orioles (52-63). J.T. Ginn is slated to take the mound for Oakland against Tomoyuki Sugano for Baltimore. Jacob Lopez struck out 10 and the Athletics took the rubber game of their series against the Nationals, 6-0. The offense showed up as well for the Athletics pounding out 12 hits including Tyler Soderstrom's 21st HR of the season. The Orioles were off yesterday. They were on the road for the previous six games managing a combined two wins in their series against the Cubs and the Phillies. Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We've got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch the first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts. Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long. Game details & how to watch Athletics at Orioles Date: Friday, August 8, 2025 Time: 7:05PM EST Site: Oriole Park at Camden Yards City: Baltimore, MD Network/Streaming: NBCSCA, MASN Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out. Odds for the Athletics at the Orioles The latest odds as of Friday: Moneyline: Athletics (-102), Orioles (-117) Spread: Orioles 1.5 Total: 9.0 runs Probable starting pitchers for Athletics at Orioles Pitching matchup for August 8, 2025: J.T. Ginn vs. Tomoyuki Sugano Athletics: J.T. Ginn (2-3, 4.28 ERA)Last outing: August 2 vs. Arizona - 8.31 ERA, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 5 Walks, and 2 Strikeouts Orioles: Tomoyuki Sugano (8-5, 4.42 ERA)Last outing: August 2 at Cubs - 5.40 ERA, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type! Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Athletics at Orioles The Athletics have won their last 4 road games against teams with better records The Under is 8-2 in the Orioles' last 10 with a rest advantage over their opponents The Orioles have covered the Run Line on the last 3 occasions that they've had a rest advantage J.T. Ginn has struck out no more than 2 batters in 4 of his last 6 and 6 of his last 10 appearances and has struck out 5 or more just 1 time in those 10 appearances Rookie Nick Kurtz is hitless (0-6) in his last 2 games after going 7-15 in his previous 4 games If you're looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports! Expert picks & predictions for tonight's game between the Athletics and the Orioles Rotoworld Best Bet Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700. Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts. Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager. Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday's game between the Athletics and the Orioles: Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Oakland Athletics on the Moneyline. Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Oakland Athletics at +1.5. Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0. Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff: Jay Croucher (@croucherJD) Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
