![\"Collector](\"http:\/\/www.greenstreetdata.com\/PS\/owego\/files\/2020\/03\/Car_Collector1.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n2. Grand Prix, 1966<\/strong> \u2013 Director John Frankenheimer\u2019s epic won three Oscars and featured James Garner as American driver Pete Aron and his battles both personally and in the racecars to compete on the world\u2019s biggest auto racing stage of Formula 1.\u00a0\u00a0Considering the year it was released, moviegoers were treated to spectacular footage and a good story line of racing, love, triumph and tragedy. Garner was respected as one of Hollywood\u2019s true gifted drivers and he did all of his driving scenes without the use of a double. Oscars included Sound, Editing and Effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Days of Thunder, 1990<\/strong> \u2013 With Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman and Robert Duval starring; how can you go wrong? In a plot similar to Cruise\u2019s spectacular \u201cTop Gun\u201d (Top Gun: Maverick aka Top Gun 2 debuts this June), the plot finds Cruise seeking to capture glory in NASCAR and fills the screen in the plight of a young driver learning to overcome the setbacks that stand in his way. His love for the doctor that treats him (Kidman) following an on track accident with rival Rowdy Burns (Michael Rooker) is noteworthy, as is Duvall\u2019s performance as the crew chief and Randy Quaid as the car owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Cars 1, 2 and 3, 2006, 2011, 2017<\/strong>: Okay, okay! After numerous letters from fans, all three of the Cars movies make the \u201cBest\u201d list this time. I held off from including digital animation, but these films have become so popular with kids and adults I had to include them this time. All Cars movies concentrate on auto racing as the main theme and feature big name stars. These movies have won numerous awards, grossed millions and feature voices by Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Richard Petty, Paul Newman, Bob Costas, Darrell Waltrip and many more big names. Pop some corn and have at it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Greased Lightning, 1977 <\/strong>\u2013 Although this move is many times forgotten, it\u2019s still worth a spot on our Top 10 as Richard Pryor, Pam Greir and Beau Bridges chronicle the difficult life and times of NASCAR\u2019s still only African American driver to ever win a NASCAR Cup race; namely Wendell Scott. It\u2019s the \u201cunderdog\u201d true-life movie on this list and highly recommended.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. Rush, 2013 <\/strong>\u2013 Anytime you see the name Ron Howard as director, you know your film experience will be a good one. Rush follows the heated competition for Formula 1 championship honors between rivals James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl), the latter who nearly lost his life in a fiery crash during the 1976 season. True to life in every aspect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7. Thunder in Carolina, 1960<\/strong> \u2013 I had to keep the very first NASCAR based film with loads of footage from the 1959 Darlington Southern 500 on the list. The film stars Rory Calhoun as the carefree racing roamer Mitch Cooper who is injured in a crash. He puts a young driver behind the wheel (Race Gentry) and he\u2019s so good he leaves Cooper for a factory ride for the Southern 500. Sparks fly as Connie Hines, who plays Gentry\u2019s wife and is best known as wife of TV\u2019s Wilbur Post of Mr. Ed fame, is against her husband racing. Notable is Gilligan Island\u2019s \u201cSkipper\u201d Alan Hale Jr. who also makes the film an enjoyable, nostalgic favorite.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n 8. Talladega Nights, 2006 <\/strong>\u2013 The zaniness of this NASCAR based comedy finds Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly and Sasha Baron Cohen deliver a load of laughs centered on NASCAR Cup racing. You\u2019ll see many real-life cameos from Fox Sports announcer Mike Joy to drivers Darrell Waltrip and Jamie McMurray. \u201cShake and Bake,\u201d (Ferrell and Reilly) go from best friends to worst enemies. Foreigner Cohen appears on the scene as a Formula 1 champ looking for NASCAR fame. It\u2019s a non-realistic comedy yet very entertaining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 9. The Last American Hero, 1973<\/strong> – With the recent passing of the real \u201cLast American Hero\u201d Junior Johnson, we couldn\u2019t leave this one off the updated list. Based on author Tom Wolfe’s Esquire magazine articles about the famous stock car racer Junior Johnson who Wolfe dubbed “The Last American Hero,” the film follows Jeff Bridges as Elroy \u201cJunior\u201d Jackson who turns his life around from convicted moonshiner to big time winner. Valerie Perrine co-stars as a racing groupie while Ned Beatty and Gary Busey also have supporting roles. It\u2019s worth the watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Collector](\"http:\/\/www.greenstreetdata.com\/PS\/owego\/files\/2020\/03\/Car_Collector5.jpg\")
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