Year: 1983
Runtime: 96 min
Language: English
Director: Hal Needham
After a sponsorship dispute abruptly ends his successful racing career, NASCAR star Stroker Ace finds himself without a contract. He's then unexpectedly recruited by the eccentric owner of a fried-chicken chain, who intends to use Stroker's image to promote his business. This leads to a series of chaotic and unusual situations as Stroker struggles to balance racing and the demands of increasingly bizarre marketing schemes.
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Stroker Ace is a dynamic and daring NASCAR driver hailing from Waycross, Georgia, renowned for his prowess on the track. With his trusty #7 Ford Thunderbird, he has clinched three championships, yet his overconfident attitude often casts a shadow over his considerable talent. His fiercest rival is Aubrey James, who drives the #10 Four-Star Whiskey Buick Regal and is intent on outshining Stroker to establish himself as a prominent contender.
When Stroker’s hubris gets the better of him, he finds himself in a heated conflict with Jim Catty, a representative from Zenon Oil, his current sponsor. In a moment of reckless vengeance, Stroker retaliates by dumping a load of wet concrete on Catty, prompting Catty to search for a new sponsorship. This is where Clyde Torkle, a wealthy fried-chicken entrepreneur, steps in. Accompanied by his loyal driver Arnold and the newly appointed marketing and public relations director, Pembrook Feeny, Torkle persuades Stroker and his lead mechanic, Lugs Harvey, to team up with him.
Unfortunately for Stroker, his failure to thoroughly review his contract results in a series of unexpected challenges. He unwittingly becomes the face of the Chicken Pit fast-food chain, sportingly the slogan, “The Fastest Chicken in the South,” on his vehicle. This deal requires him to engage in promotional appearances, including wearing a chicken costume, much to his dismay. Realizing the unfortunate predicament he has landed in, Stroker devises a scheme with Lugs to escape this binding agreement.
Meanwhile, Torkle envisions leveraging Stroker’s personality to catapult the Chicken Pit brand into regional prominence, fully intending to exploit Stroker’s antics for maximum publicity. Amidst this chaos, Stroker becomes attracted to Pembrook, a lovely Sunday School teacher who holds her values close. Although initially resistant to his advances, she eventually warms up to his genuine respect for her beliefs.
As the racing season unfolds, Stroker finds himself on a winning streak under the Chicken Pit banner, aggressively pursuing the championship title. However, just when success seems within reach, Torkle receives an enticing offer to sell his franchise for a substantial profit, but there’s a catch: he must part ways with Stroker. Faced with an agonizing choice, Stroker must decide between securing his future by winning the championship or sacrificing himself for the Chicken Pit’s success.
Amidst this whirlwind of competition, Stroker grapples with his own internal conflicts. He attempts to slow his pace to regain control over his destiny, but his indomitable spirit propels him forward again, refusing to back down. A technical issue eventually pushes him down to sixth place, as time rushes away. Unbeknownst to Torkle, who naively announces Stroker’s release from his contract, Stroker quietly gears up for a second chance at victory.
In an unexpected twist, as news of his release spreads, Stroker seizes the moment, executing a breathtaking roll-over as he crosses the finish line, clinching the championship title. However, Torkle’s triumph is short-lived, as he later realizes that the lucrative proposal for his chicken franchise was nothing but a clever ploy orchestrated by Stroker and his friends.
Last Updated: November 17, 2024 at 21:39
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