Smokey and the Bandit petroleum company Mobil 1 produced television commercials, featuring NASCAR star Tony Stewart, closely based on the film. Called "Smoke is the Bandit" playing on Stewart's nickname, the commercials featured him as the Bandit opposite Darrell Waltrip who played Snowman and Jeff Hammond as Buford T. Justice. The story replaced the Coors beer with Mobil 1 products. The adverts poked fun at the film and even featured a Pontiac Trans Am and a cover version of the song "East Bound and Down". The commercials were produced after Stewart mentioned that the movie was one of his favorites. When "Smokey and the
Burt Reynolds car chase film, "W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings" (1975), and a tough cop drama with Aldrich, "Hustle" (1975). He did a cameo for Mel Brooks in "Silent Movie" (1976). Reynolds made his directorial debut in 1976 with "Gator", the sequel to "White Lightning", written by Norton. "I waited 20 years to do it [directing] and I enjoyed it more than anything I've ever done in this business," he said after filming. "And I happen to think it's what I do best." He was reunited with Bogdanovich for the screwball comedy "Nickelodeon" (1976), which was a commercial disappointment. Aldrich later commented,