Smokey and the Bandit sponsored a racer in Atlanta's Southern Classic and wants to celebrate in style when he wins. They find local legend Bo "Bandit" Darville at a roadeo at Lakewood Fairgrounds in Atlanta and offer him $80,000 to pick up 400 cases of Coors from Texarkana (the closest place it could be legally sold at that time), and bring it back to Atlanta in 28 hours. Bandit takes the bet and recruits his partner Cledus "Snowman" Snow to drive the truck, while Bandit drives a black Pontiac Trans Am bought on an advance from the Burdettes as a "blocker" to divert attention
Smokey and the Bandit Dukes of Hazzard" (1979-1985), from the same creator and with many identical settings and concepts, the popularity of "Smokey and the Bandit" and similar films helped get the "Dukes" series on the air. Three actors from the main cast of "The Dukes of Hazzard" appear in small uncredited roles in "Smokey and the Bandit": Ben Jones, John Schneider and Sonny Shroyer (who played a police officer in both). In return, Reynolds portrayed the "Dukes" character Boss Hogg (originally portrayed by Sorrell Booke) in the film adaptation "The Dukes of Hazzard" (2005). Reynolds is also referenced by name in several early