Steel Chariots (1997) (TV)

User Rating:

4.7/10   

Director:

Tommy Lee Wallace

Writers:

Michael Berk (writer)
Douglas Schwartz (writer)

Release Date:

23 September 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Plot Keywords:

Family Loyalty | Brother vs Brother | Family Business | Racetrack | Family History

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

John Beck	...	Dale Tucker
Kathleen Nolan	...	Ethel Tucker
Ben Browder	...	D.J. Tucker
Heidi Mark	...	Amber
Randy Travis	...	Rev. Wally Jones
Scott Gurney	...	Brett Tucker
Madison Michele	...	Melissa Bogart
Brian Van Holt	...	Franklin Jones
Heather Stephens	...	Josie
Robby Preddy	...	Charlotte Tucker
Jeff Gordon	...	Himself
Mark Martin	...	Himself
Rusty Wallace	...	Himself
Ned Jarrett	...	Himself
Benny Parsons	...	Himself

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Birmingham, Alabama, USA

Company:

Berk/Schwartz/Bonann Productions

Hollywood and NASCAR just don't seem to gel together...

As a long-time NASCAR fan, once again it's sad to see Hollywood botch a racing film. (Days of Thunder is the most well-known flawed portrayal.) Steel Chariots, a Fox made-for-TV film, is far worse than Days of Thunder was, though. Days, for all its portrayal of NASCAR drivers as homicidal and/or suicidal maniacs when behind the wheel, had good actors (Tom Cruise, Robert Duvall, Nicole Kidman, Fred Thompson), while this film has actors who seem more wooden than the NASCAR personalities who make cameos. It also has some really offensive stereotypes, perhaps -- perhaps -- one step ahead of Dukes of Hazard. A couple of good race shots are all that salvage this from being an unmitigated disaster... instead, it's a very slightly mitigated disaster.