Blue Velvet/Frank Booth Connection?

I just started watching KoD right in the middle on the FX channel. I have seen the movie a long time ago, and while not great, its pretty entertaining.

I noticed that Junior's (Nick Cage)charactor acts like an unstable madman.
The part I tuned into was when Cage asks David Caruso if he "wants to go for a ride." In Blue Velvet, Frank Booth asks Jeffrey if he wants to go for a "joyride."

They end up meeting Ving Rhame's charactor for a gun deal. After some tension passes, Cage takes a hit of his inhaler, much like the way Frank Booth takes a hit from his gas mask.

This might be a coincidence, but I couldn't help to notice the similaries. I'm suprised no one mentioned this either on the message boards, let alone the movie connections. An homage perhaps..

Any thoughts?