Retired NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick buys Ricky Bobby’s mansion
Retired NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick hasn’t been out of the game for a month, yet he’s already living every fan’s dream. According to the Charlotte Business Journal, in association with North Carolina’s Mecklenberg County Records, Harvick purchased the 12,042-square-foot mansion in late October, before announcing his retirement.
Why does this matter? Because the house Harvick is buying is the same house that legendary fictional driver Ricky Bobby lived in in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.
What is “Talladega Nights: The Ricky Bobby Song”?
The film, usually shortened to “Talladega Nights” or “Ricky Bobby,” was released in 2006 and starred Will Ferrell as a respected NASCAR driver determined to finish first in every race. His marquee saying was “If you’re not first, you’re last.”
Throughout the film, we get some scenes inside Bobby’s home, which he shares with his wife, Carly (portrayed by Leslie Bibb), and his two sons. Throughout the film, we get glimpses of the room, from the dining room to the living room, to the hallway. At one point in the film, John C. Reilly’s character describes feeling uncomfortable in Bobby’s house and describes some of the features, namely a stereo and a television. Riley’s character also admits that he believes the house is haunted.
In the real world, the house has six bedrooms, nine bathrooms, two docks, a boat lift area, a beach, an infinity pool, a hot tub, and putting green.
It may or may not be haunted. Surprisingly, this is not listed on Zillow.
How did Talladega Nights do at the box office?
“Tallaedega Nights” became the number one film in the country, grossing $47 million in its first week. At the time, this was Ferrell’s biggest opening weekend ever. It was finally passed by “The Lego Movie” in 2014.
The film remains Ferrell’s fourth highest-grossing film of all time and remains a classic. Ricky Bobby is one of Ferrell’s most popular personalities at the moment.
Who was the better driver, Kevin Harvick or Ricky Bobby?
It is not known how long Ricky Bobby was in his prime, but during his peak, Bobby was unbeatable. It was so good, his family’s dinner was sponsored by Taco Bell, Powerade and Mountain Dew.
Bobby became an icon in the sport. His reckless attitude and willingness to throw caution to the wind caught attention from around the world. He would have been considered arrogant if he wasn’t winning all the time.
Eventually, Bobby’s strong career came to an end when French Formula 1 driver Jean Girard joined the NASCAR circuit and crushed Bobby. After a brief hiatus from NASCAR, Bobby returned to the sport at the Talladega 500, losing to Naughton after trying to finish the race on foot with Gerard.
Harvick’s peak lasted much longer than Bobby’s. Harvick retired as the 10th-winningest driver in the sport with 60 victories on the Cup circuit and the Cup championship in 2014. Between 2007 and 2022, Harvick earned approximately $210 million through his annual salary and endorsements.
The Cup Championship is what stands out for me in this discussion. Bobby never got the recognition for being the best in NASCAR until the end of the movie, and that was just one race. Harvick has proven his superiority over the course of an entire season. Although he may not have been a huge hit with the fans, he has a much better case for being a better driver all the time.
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