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
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,