The 25 best fictional racecar drivers

Bobby Brady (Mike Lookinland) longed to be an athlete of some sorts during The Brady Bunch days. Then, during A Very Brady Christmas, we learn that he dropped out of business school to become a race car driver. Apparently his racing career went well enough to enter a prestigious stock car race during the short-lived CBS series The Bradys (1990). Sadly, Bobby was involved in a serious wreck during that race, and was paralyzed from the waist down. A seemingly unlikely plotline for the otherwise wholesome Brady franchise.

This won't be the last time we'll highlight Sylvester Stallone in a driver role. With 2001's often-forgotten Driven, which Stallone also wrote and produced, his Tanto was once a great Champ and Indy Car champion, and eventually finds himself getting back on the track to train the sport's newest hot spot racer. As much as viewers want to take "The Hammer" seriously, it doesn't really work. The plot and story are highly predictable, and not even Stallone's presence could save it from commercial and critical failure. 

While nott the most creative script out there, but fun nonetheless. In the end, that's what a good animated action comedy, from 2003, should do. Ryan Reynolds voices main character Theo (aka "Turbo"), your typical garden snail whose dream of competing in and winning the Indianapolis 500 after he earns the power of superspeed. Of course, with great power comes great responsibility. Turbo is a fun, entertaining movie that should not be looked into too deeply. 

A likely forgotten Stallone film from 1975. Set in the futuristic, yet dystopian world of the year 2000, a popular form of entertainment in this film's America features a national car race where drivers soup up their cars as weapons, kill civilians along the way, and survive themselves in a last-racer-standing competition. Stallone is "Machine Gun" Joe, the "roughest, tough guy of them all." One of the greatest drivers in the history of the event, Joe is "loved by thousands and hated by millions," while driving a race car complete with machine guns in place of headlights. 

There have been various screen versions of the beloved Volkswagen Beetle known as Herbie -- The Love Bug. In the original 1969 film, Jim Douglas (Dean Jones) is a washed-up race car driver no competing in demolition derbies. He happens upon our beloved Beetle at a car dealership and realizes the eccentric and, apparently, super-powerful car has eyes on him being his owner. The Douglas character doesn't appear in every sequel or remake in the franchise, but is well worth celebrating. 

A list like this wouldn't be complete without an appearance -- or two -- from Burt Reynolds. While the Bandit is not an official race car driver, Reynolds' Stroker Ace is and even though the 1983 movie was a flop and hindered the star's career for a time, it's worth inclusion here. A three-time NASCAR Winston Cup-winning driver, Stroker is arrogant, reckless and all for the glory -- as well as being a true ladies man. To true Reynolds' fans, it's a forgettable character, but in terms of fictional racers, he's a star.

The late Paul Walker found success through The Fast and the Furious franchise of movies. Walker's Brian O'Connor is the undercover cop who infiltrates an infamous street racing outfit -- and might have become too involved. O'Connor gets caught up in the thrill of the race, the speed, the street, the rush. But, he does his best to remain professional. Sadly, a high-speed car wreck is what took Walker's own life, as a passenger.

Our list is not limited to movies or television. The popular Grid Legends racing video game continues to draw raves, and the stories associated with its racers are pretty intriguing. One of the most successful and celebrated drivers within the confines of the video game series, McKane is the star of Ravenwest Motorsport, which is run by his uncle. Following in the footsteps of father Donnie McKane, a successful driver in his own right, Nathan won five straight GRID World Series. All while dealing with a significant amount of family pressure.

The top driver for prominent Volz Racing, the young Manzi (portrayed by Ncuti Gatwa) has quite the backstory amid the confines of the popular racing game. A rival of the aforementioned Nathan McKane, Manzi, part of a family from Rwanda who also lived in Scotland, is a dynamic character on and off the track. He's a marketing exec's dream and also proven to be a seriously talented driver. 

Cary Elwes  has generally played protagonists or good guys during a stellar acting career. However, that's not the case with his Russ Wheeler from the classic 1990 film -- which just might be the greatest fictional auto racing films of all time. Wheeler is a rookie driver with promise, but when the main character (more about who know who later on this list) is unable to drive, this character jumps in the seat, has success and begins his own rivalry with the movie's star. And, Elwes pulls it off without a hitch. 

There have been various versions of this classic Japanese animated storyline that began in a book and was popularized via television. The animated series premiered in the United States in 1967, in English. Racer X, aka Rex Racer, was the mysterious older brother and namesake star of the show. X was a strong driver, filled with talent, however, he never seemed to reach his potential and seemed to be conflicted both professionally and personally throughout the run of the show.  

Dean Martin's inclusion amongst a star-studded cast in the early 1980s Cannonball Run films was truly enjoyable. Sure, it was toward the end Martin's legendary acting career, but he successfully added to that legacy as Jamie Blake , a former Formula One star. Driving a Ferrari 308 GTS, disguised as a priest, along with teammate and scam artist Morris Fenderbaum (good buddy Sammy Davis Jr.), Blake is a smooth talking, hard-driving competitor who often has a drink in hand -- in and out of the car.

Michael Keaton has lent his voice to various animated projects during his celebrated Hollywood career, but his take as Lightning McQueen's on-track rival Chick Hicks from the 2006 legendary hit Cars, your typical 1980s stock car, is arguably the most memorable. Sponsored by HTB, a.k.a. Hostile Takeover Bank, Chick wants to follow in the footsteps of "The King," and he will resort to any tactics to make that happen. Chick isn't really mean, he's just too cocky.

We touched on Sylvester Stallone's role in this cult favorite, but the true star of the picture is David Carradine's Frankenstein. He's got the toughest, high-tech (for the mid-1970s), souped up killing machine vehicle. We love the dastardly teeth on the front of the car. And of course, his steel face mask that only adds to the devilish character that seemed so far advanced for the time.   

A prominent judge in Radiator Springs, Doc Hudson  (voiced by the legendary Paul Newman) didn't like talking about his past. Maybe because he really wasn't ready to divulge it to a certain hot-shot racer of the time. In Cars reality, Hudson, in the body of a vintage navy-blue 1951 Hudson Hornet, was once a great racer himself. None other than the iconic Fabulous Hudson Hornet. It was also the final time Newman's voice work was used in an original capacity before his 2008 death.

When it comes to racing bad boys, it's hard to beat Rowdy Burns. Brilliantly played by Michael Rooker, Burns was the reigning Winston Cup champion, the best racer on NASCAR's highest circuit. That's until some hot-shot driver (more about that in a minute) takes his place. Of course, Burns' arrogance and intimidating on-track persona give way to some good-hearted friendship when his situation changes. Still, when Rowdy's bad, it's good for audiences. 

Another stop off to The Cannonball Run universe, while also again highlighting Burt Reynolds. His J.J. McClure is the star of those first two movies, a former champion stock car racer who has the smarts, know-how and cunning wit to win the famed outlaw Cannonball Run road race. Teammed with his former mechanic and often annoying buddy Victor Prinzi (Dom DeLuise), J.J. manages to find success while speeding the country in a Dodge Tradesman ambulance.

We truly could have our pick of beloved characters from the late 1960s Saturday morning cartoon that lasted fewer than 20 episodes. A total of 11 different cars were featured in this over-the-top race, like The Gruesome Twosome and Dick Dastardly. However, the queen of the competition is Penelope Pitstop (voiced by Janet Waldo), who sports an old-tyme racing outfit (mostly pink) while driving. Penelope is a good driver, can reach top speed, but tends to be more focused on her appearance than the road.  

More from The Fast and the Furious, and arguably the franchise's biggest star. Dominic Toretto, the former race car driver whose career was derailed for his violent temper, then turned to illegal street racing, remains the defining role of Vin Diesel's career. For as much of a tough guy as Toretto is, there is also a human side that endears him -- for better or worse -- to others, like the aforementioned Brian O'Connor. 

When it comes to great racing comedies 2006, Talladega Nights is Richard Petty -- "The King." John C. Reilly's Cal Naughton is the good-hearted, loyal teammate at Dennit Racing who doesn't mind coming in second just about every time to his more popular buddy (more about him in a few). Cal isn't the shiniest spark plug on pit row, but he's a highly likable character who is responsible for consistent laughs throughout a movie where he's often the scene stealer. 

The chief antagonist from Talladega Nights. This extremely talented gay French Formula One standout, who becomes an overnight NASCAR sensation, truly introduced Sacha Baron Cohen to the filmgoing masses. "Frenchie" is known for his superior etiquette, high intelligence, the ability to sip tea or coffee while driving and a love for dogs and cats -- and husband Gregory. He provides plenty of laughs within this legendary comedy. 

The star of his show, our title character is one of the all-time animated greats. Whether speeding his way in the Mach 5 -- or Mach 6 in the film version -- and usually trying to dodge danger or get out of a sticky situation or taking part in competition, Speed is always entertaining. However, his true value is a loyalty to family (Pops, Racer X) and friends (Chim-Chim and Trixie). Emile Hirsch played the title role in the 2008 action movie of the same name. And, who can forget that catchy theme song?

Tom Cruise has played the young hot shot learning from a celebrated veteran in movies such as Top Gun, Cocktail, and Color of Money. And, of course, Days of Thunder. Slapped with one of the great fictional driver names of all time, Cole Trickle is young, brash, cocky, stubborn and eventually willing to listen and learn when he sees the writing on the wall. To Cruise fans, it's a familiar type of character. But, like Top Gun and Color of Money, Days of Thunder is a fun watch and Trickle is someone even the audience isn't sure about, but ends up rooting to succeed.

Owen Wilson could have made a living from voicing one of the most beloved characters in the history of the Disney/Pixar universe. The hero of the three Cars films, Lightning McQueen is iconic. The popular stock car racer goes from a self-absorbed star-in-the-making to a caring and focused speedster who has finally seen the big picture in his life. Wilson's overall body of work is versatile, spanning comedies and dramas, starring roles and supporting efforts, but McQueen stands tall.

The star of the show and one of Will Ferrell's most celebrated and beloved characters. The dim-witted, highly unintelligent Ricky Bobby went from a timed, redneck jackman to one of the most successful racers in fictional NASCAR at the time. Best friend of Cal Naughton and main rival of Jean Girard, Ricky's consistent stupidity and new-found arrogance provide most of the movie's main laughs. From yelling "Shake and Bake" to the mantra "If you're not first, you're last," Ricky Bobby is a comedy Hall of Famer -- regardless of sport.