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Stroker Ace was released on July 1, 1983. To mark the occasion, here's a thread of info related to the NASCAR film starring Burt Reynolds.
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The movie was adapted from the 1973 book "Stand On It," an autobiography co-written by William Neely and Bob Ottum under the pseudonym Stroker Ace. There were real stories but all attributed to Ace to protect real drivers. Much was inspired by Curtis Turner and IndyCar drivers
Stroker Ace was originally supposed to be a Paul Newman movie. Newman bought the movie rights to the book in 1974. Much of the book is set at the Indy 500 so Newman's film would've been IndyCar-centered. He never got around to making it before his rights lapsed.
Initially the movie was going to be called Stand On It, but was renamed Stroker Ace during production. It was still called Stand On It in some countries and The Raging Rooster in Germany.
At the 1982 World 600, Tim Richmond's car was painted like Stroker Ace's Chicken Pit car to film shots for the movie. They later said that wasn't necessary and ended up using very little film from that race. Scenes were filmed at the 82 Firecracker 400, and the 82 Talladega 500.
Stroker Ace featured many appearances from real NASCAR drivers including Dale Earnhardt, Neil Bonnett, Kyle Petty, and Ricky Rudd.
This great cameo from Ken Squier was one of the best scenes in Stroker Ace. 
"Who set up the car, drug addicts?"
"Just once, I wish you guys would tell us the real story. Shit."
"Who set up the car, drug addicts?"
"Just once, I wish you guys would tell us the real story. Shit."
Before Stroker Ace, Burt Reynolds was voted the #1 movie star by viewers and theatre owners for the past 6 years. But Stroker Ace was such a flop that he later regretted how it completely derailed his career.
“That’s where I lost (the fans.)” Burt said of Stroker Ace in 1987.
“That’s where I lost (the fans.)” Burt said of Stroker Ace in 1987.
A role in Terms of Endearment was written especially for Burt Reynolds. Burt turned down the role to do Stroker while his replacement Jack Nicholson won an Oscar.
"When it came time to choose between ‘Terms’ and ‘Stroker,’ I chose the latter because I felt I owed Hal more"
"When it came time to choose between ‘Terms’ and ‘Stroker,’ I chose the latter because I felt I owed Hal more"
The Clyde Torkle Chicken Pit Restaurant that Stroker Ace cut the ribbon for was located at 875 Smith Street in Jonesboro, Georgia. It was actually a Burger King and the original building was torn down in 2016.
Stroker Ace was referenced in a 2003 episode of The Simpsons when Marge is trying to tell Lisa that movies have been filmed in Springfield before.
When Dale Jr drove a KFC car in the July 2004 Busch Race at Daytona, the name Stroker Ace was above his window in reference to the chicken connection with Clyde Torkle's Chicken Pit.
BJ McLeod drove a Stroker Ace throwback scheme in the 2019 Southern 500
BJ McLeod drove a Stroker Ace throwback scheme in the 2019 Southern 500
