Stroker Ace (1983)

The title character, a popular NASCAR driver, clashes with the fried-chicken mogul that sponsors his racing team.

Director:

Hal Needham

Writers:

William Neely (novel), Robert K. Ottum (novel),

Stars:

Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, Jim Nabors

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Burt Reynolds	...	Stroker Ace
Ned Beatty	...	Clyde Torkle
Jim Nabors	...	Lugs Harvey
Parker Stevenson	...	Aubrey James
Loni Anderson	...	Pembrook Feeney
John Byner	...	Doc Seegle
Frank O. Hill	...	Dad Seegle
Cassandra Peterson	...	Girl with Lugs
Bubba Smith	...	Arnold
Warren Stevens	...	Jim Catty
Alfie Wise	...	Charlie
James C. Lewis	...	Crew Chief
Neil Bonnett	...	NASCAR Driver
Dale Earnhardt	...	NASCAR Driver
Harry P. Gant	...	NASCAR Driver (as Harry Gant)

Storyline

Stroker Ace, a champion NASCAR driver, is standing at the top of his career, but is getting fed up with having to do as he's told. In between rebelling against his sponsor (a fried chicken chain)'s promotion gimmicks (like making him dress up in giant chicken suit) he spends the rest of the movie trying to bed the buxom Pembrook.

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Plot Keywords:

nascar | sponsor | racing | chicken suit | car race | 

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Taglines:

BURT'S BACK . . . With car crashin' & party crashin' as the hassled hunk who drives his car upside down & his women round the bend! [Australia theatrical]

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Romance | Sport

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 July 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Stand on It

Filming Locations:

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$13,000,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie featured real life sports announcers playing speedway sports announcers. They included Ken Squier, Chris Economaki, Bill Dollar and Bill Connell.

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Goofs

While extras fill the lower grandstand, the infield is almost entirely vacant during the upside-down finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Empty stands are also obvious during the subsequent winners circle scenes.

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Quotes

Dad Seegle: [In a very dry tone] I know NOTHING, I am merely the messenger.

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Connections

Referenced in Death Proof (2007)

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Soundtracks

"Stroker Ace"
Written and Performed by The Charlie Daniels Band

User Reviews

Lazy, pointless NASCAR sendup

Burt Reynolds goes through the motions as an absurdly-named stock car driver in this dull, deeply unfunny 'comedy' directed by long-time buddy Hal Needham. Nonsensical plot concerns Reynold's efforts to get out of a sponsorship contract (what, he doesn't want to be on a competitive team?) while trying to woo Loni Anderson's PR flack/Sunday school teacher, over the course of a seemingly endless racing season.

Big hair, cornpone accents and superficial performances abound, with particularly annoying turns from Jim Nabors (as Reynolds' crew chief) and Ned Beatty (as a fried chicken magnate). Only potential points of interest are the period racing scenes (including some of the top NASCAR drivers), and the vast cleavage displayed in the few female roles: Anderson, Cassandra "Elvira" Peterson, Debbie Casperson and the legendary Linda Vaughn.