| Director | Daniel Petrie |
|---|---|
| Budget | $11.5 million |
| Box office | $20.2 million |
When race car driver Brewster Baker stops at a gas station in a small Texas town, parts are stolen from his race car. While at a local diner, he sees people stealing parts from another car, so he gives chase.
When the thieves' van goes into a river, Brewster rescues them and discovers that they are orphaned children. The kids were stealing for "Big John", the corrupt county sheriff, who jails Brewster for breaking and entering, larceny, resisting arrest and speeding.
After the kids help break Brewster out of jail, Brewster reluctantly takes the children with him. They prevent the sheriff from giving chase by loosening several bolts on his car, like those on the doors and hood and the lug nuts.
Arriving in Shreveport, Louisiana, while Brewster is in a bar reacquainting himself with Lilah, the kids steal parts off other cars to reequip his car. He is able to come in fourth in the Dixie 100, but uses most of his winnings to pay back the drivers whose car parts the kids took.
At the next track in Mississippi, Breezy distracts rival driver Terk while her brothers tinker with his car. A few races later, Terk tries to get revenge on Brewster and the kids by calling the police on them. As they have formed a friendship and bonded, Brewster breaks them out by impersonating a police officer.
Finally sponsored by Ford, Brewster gets a new car for the Atlanta 500. Lilah surprises him there. Terk and some men jump him, dumping him in the woods. He comes to, hitches a ride, and makes it to the track in time to race. During a pit stop, Brewster discovers that the Texas sheriff has taken the kids. He leaves his pit box and cuts off Terk, who wrecks into the wall and chases down the Texas sheriff as he tries to take the kids away, cutting him off in the pits. Using the sudden media presence, he manages to get the kids away from the sheriff and gets the sheriff to admit that the kids are in good hands. Brewster and Lilah marry, adopt the kids and move into a house.
The end of the movie features real race footage from the 1982 NASCAR Coca-Cola 500, held at Atlanta Motor Speedway and won that year by Darrell Waltrip.