Stock car racer "Fireball" Dave Owens from California goes to race in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he intends on competing against local champ Sonny Leander Fox.

Agents from the IRS threaten to send Dave to six months in jail unless he helps them bust the local moonshine ring.

It turns out that Martha's moonshining partner, Charlie Bigg, was solely responsible for the murder of Joey and also tried to kill Dave because he was jealous that the young California driver is sleeping with her.

[3]Stock car racing had already been the subject of Red Line 7000 but this movie would be specifically told from the teenagers point of view.

)[9] The "Fireball 500" is a 1966 Plymouth Barracuda, heavily customized by George Barris, with a standard 273 cubic inch V-8 engine that develops 275 h.p.

[12] Funicello and Fabian starred together again (without Avalon) the following year in AIP's follow-up feature, Thunder Alley.

The film's soundtrack is by Les Baxter, and features six songs written by Guy Hemric and Jerry Styner.

Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times said the film "leaves American International's beach formula pretty much intact despite William Asher's attempt to inject some sophistication into his story" but thought it was "always easy to watch" with "a brisk tempo, a stylish verve that leaps over large holes in the story.

"[14] Variety called it "an admirable attempt, realized to a significant degree, to add drama to what had become standard teen pic fluff.