A precursor of the Burt Reynolds school of mainstream redneck films such a Smokey and the Bandit, the movie follows the fictionalized career of auto daredevil Dusty Russell as he develops into a world class stunt driver.

Russell actually was a world champion auto daredevil who set the dive bomber record while filming Steel Arena.

The bartender offers him a job for $100 driving a "tanker", a souped up car for running bootleg moonshine.

The stunt driver Crash Chambers, who has taken an instant dislike to Dusty, becomes jealous as he is relegated to the secondary attraction of smashing through a flaming wooden wall with his head, as he lies on the hood of an automobile.

Touring the state of Texas with the Circus of Death, Dusty ties the world record of 60 feet.

As Dusty prepares to set a world record dive bomber jump of 70 feet, Crash sabotages him by cutting his safety belt.

Gene arranges for him to set a new auto dive bomber record of 100 feet after a short stay in hospital.

Russell goes ahead with the stunt despite being injured and requiring clutches to make it to the event, and successfully extends his world record to 100 feet.

In the final scene, Jo-Ann catches a Greyhound bus alone, and is in tears because of the tragedy as the credits roll.

Mark L. Lester saw Dusty Russell and the other stunt drivers who appear in the movie at an auto daredevils show in Berkeley, California, where they performed as The Circus of Death.

Originally intending to make a documentary film about the Circus of Death on tour, Lester signed them up to star in a fictional story about auto daredevils.

"[3] Stunt driver Ed “Chromedome” Ryan was an escaped convict wanted for armed robbery, which was revealed after the film was released.