The Ricky Bobby Effect: a gay racecar driver!

A charming reader directed us to an interesting story about Evan Darling, a 39-year-old gay man who also happens to be an auto racer with his sights on NASCAR. Having just completed his first pro race (The Grand-Am Koni Challenge in Miami), Darling has bumped out of the amateur circuit and may be on his way to becoming the first openly gay NASCAR driver. Darling has a gay bar for a sponsor (Georgie's Alibi) but otherwise doesn't see himself as being much different than any other guy on the track -- he's just another kid who grew up wanting to race cars.

Darling notes:

"I think it’s a pretty bold move, being an out pro racecar driver ... But every step we make, where we have people doing things that you don’t see a typical gay person doing, is a step in the right direction."

Darling also notes that were he to get into NASCAR, he thinks the fans might have more problem with his sexuality than the other drivers. Heck -- Jeff Gordon would probably be relieved to have the heat off of him for once (due primarily to his good looks, fans of Gordon's rivals have long gay-baited the straight, married driver). Interestingly, another story on Darling notes that this isn't the first time there's been something queer afoot in professional racing: in 1992, pro veteran driver James Terrell Hayes underwent sexual reassignment and continued to race as Terri O'Connell. Go Terri!

We'd like to celebrate these racing pioneers with this scene from Talladega Nights, in which Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) makes out with his gay, French arch-rival (Sacha Baron Cohen) after the climactic race. Enjoy!