Which Racing Plot Or Mention In Film Or TV Surprised You Most?

It's a delight to watch any film or television show outside of one's special interests, only to find they've somehow included it. Jalopnik recently explored this in a past Question of the Day when we asked readers to share shows where the background cars are on point. Most of the shows listed had nothing to do with cars, but the cars were worth a second look, even as background players. Cars are almost a given prop in any 20th and 21st century setting, but racing, not so much.

How often have you come across a show or movie where racing just happens to be part of the story? Not the main plot line, but maybe the characters meet at a race track, or one of the characters is a fan of motorsport. There is the occasional mention of "driving like Mario Andretti" in either medium, but otherwise, racing isn't commonly depicted. Just setting up a scene alone isn't cheap with period-correct cars, neither is simulating a race or actually driving the cars. Every once in a while, though, a racing scene pops up in the most unexpected of places. For today's question, I want to know which racing plot or mention in a film or tv surprised you the most?

I've quite recently landed on the other side of a rewatch of "Downton Abbey." The slow-moving period drama kicks off with news of the sinking of the Titanic, and follows the momentum of society into World War I, the rise of the automobile, and the slow death of aristocracy. While the occasional car in an episode gives us enthusiasts a fix, "Downton Abbey" is not a show you go to for racing. Until season 5, with the introduction of the character Henry Talbot.

Talbot is a racer, and his desire for on-track antics are further melded with the storyline through season 6 as he wins over the heart of Lady Mary Crawley. In season 7, the family residing at Downton Abbey joins Talbot at Brooklands Race Circuit for a thriller of a race — some of the characters even help work on his race car and the show even included the running race start! The event unfortunately ends like many races at the time did, with the death of one of Talbot's close friends. It's a tragic but realistic look at how deadly the sport was at the time. Every time I see it I wholeheartedly appreciate its inclusion in such a period-dedicated story of the aristocratic elite.

What say you, Jalops? What have you watched that has had a splendidly surprising mention or storyline dedicated to racing? Please don't mention actual car or racing movies. We've done that, a few times over. Was it a brief one-liner? Was it an episode? Maybe, like "Downton Abbey," it became an integrated storyline through a season. Tell us about it in the comments. Clips for proof are always welcome.