Back in 1983, Burt Reynolds starred in a NASCAR-themed comedy. It did not impress the critics, but it has become a cult classic among motorsports fans.
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Stroker Ace, which is available on the free streaming platform Tubi, stars Reynolds as the titular character. He loses his primary sponsor, which forces him to seek alternative means to continue racing.
July 1, 1983: Stroker Ace was released pic.twitter.com/WIdEzRb458
— nascarman (@nascarman_rr) July 1, 2025
Stroker meets Clyde Torkel (Ned Beatty), the owner of a fried chicken chain. The two agree to a contract, albeit one that the fictional NASCAR driver does not actually read.
This leads to hijinks related to some unexpected requirements written into the contract. For example, he has to don a chicken suit for a promotion.
The film did not impress critics upon its release. Roger Ebert, for example, wrote, "To call the movie a lightweight, bubble-headed summer entertainment is not criticism but simply description. This movie is so determined to be inconsequential that it's actually capable of showing horrible, fiery racing crashes and then implying that nobody got hurt."
Ebert ultimately gave the film 1.5 stars out of four. He called it one of five "Smokey-type" films, referencing Smokey and the Bandit.
Criticism aside, Stroker Ace has lived on among NASCAR fans. It is more Talladega Nights than Days of Thunder with its humorous plot, which many fans enjoy.
Drivers have also shown their support over the years. This includes Corey LaJoie, who drove a Stroker Ace-inspired No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro during the fall 2021 race at Kansas Speedway.
What's faster? @CoreyLaJoie or @diecast_b's fastest shipping in the south? 🐔#HC400 pic.twitter.com/iFlGb0aq1j
— Spire Motorsports (@SpireMotorsport) October 20, 2021
This car did not feature the fried chicken chain as in the film. Instead, it featured Circle B Diecast as the primary sponsor. The car still had the red scheme with the running chicken behind the door numbers.
LaJoie went the extra step while celebrating the opportunity to run this scheme. He channeled his inner Reynolds while he and crew chief Ryan Sparks recreated an interview scene from the film.
