With roles in 'Days of Thunder' and 'Talladega Nights,' John C. Reilly has become a NASCAR regular, at least on the silver screen. Streeter Lecka/Getty Images for NASCAR

Last week SI writer Richard Deitsch interviewed John C. Reilly for the magazine's Q&A. The actor (Days of Thunder, Chicago) costars with Will Ferrell in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. Here are additional excerpts from the interview.

SI: Are you contractually obligated to appear in every Hollywood film about NASCAR?

Reilly: I'm not, actually [laughs]. But this is definitely a shout-out to Days of Thunder. I tried to get them to have someone give a monologue to a car in Talladega Nights [as Robert Duvall did in Days], because that was one of the most ridiculous scenes. But we just couldn't fit it in with all the other hilarity.

SI: Well, you've appeared in every NASCAR film I've ever seen.

Reilly: Except for 43: The Richard Petty Story.

SI: What would be the effect if someone rented Days of Thunder and then went immediately to the theater to see Talladega Nights?

Reilly: Days of Thunder takes itself pretty seriously. Maybe once you got tired of all the drama of Days of Thunder, Talladega Nights would be a nice dessert.

SI: NASCAR has embraced this film. Why?

Reilly: In the same way that North Dallas Forty and The Longest Yard made fun of football, you can't truly make fun of something unless you have little bit of knowledge or affection for it. I think Will [Ferrell] is a popular guy and [NASCAR was] smart to embrace this movie. NASCAR fans like to laugh too. Comedy is popular now. Everyone wants to either be scared out of their wits or they want to laugh. I think it was sort of a no-brainer. People in NASCAR are smart. They saw it was a great opportunity to reach a lot more people. Pop-culture-wise, it kind of puts you on the map when people start making fun of you.

SI: The best sporting event you have attended because of your celebrity?

Reilly: Last month I threw out the first pitch of the Red Sox-White Sox game. I got so much advice from people beforehand: Come on, dude, don't just wuss it in there. Don't stand in front of the mound. You have to stand on the rubber. Then I got out there and suddenly it looked really far away.

SI: Did you throw a strike?

Reilly: I'm not going to say it was a strike. It was very high and outside but it had a certain snap to it. I felt like I could have thrown it with more accuracy but I put a little heat on it

SI: I need one memorable NASCAR movie quote. Do you prefer "If you ain't first, you're last" or "Rubbin', son, is racin'"?

Reilly: My friends and I were kind of obsessed with Days of Thunder. We used to riff on it and joke on it. Like when Robert Duvall says, "We're eating ice creams" or "I put special tires on."