Fireball 500 was popular enough for AIP to order a follow up, with Fabian and Annette Funicello back (though as different characters), and a lot of similar stock car gootage. For my money this is a better film, mostly because they get the tone right all the way through: it’s a more serious drama, with only one song (from Funicello). It has a decent plot: Fabian is a racer who blanks out during a race and causes the death of another driver, causing him to go into stock car racing. It’s a bit irresponsible for competing in a race knowing he's got a propensity to black out, but it provides good conflict.
Fabian isn't bad - maybe he could have been a bit more tormented (after all, he did cause the death of a driver). Annettee Funicello is really good - but then it's a strong role , perhaps her best ever for AIP, playing the daughter of the stock car operation. She gets to do a lot of racing herself, is funny and sexy, and quite aggressive – she falls for Fabian, and goes after him. Fabian has a girlfriend (Diane McBain) whom he sleeps with – the 60s were starting to swing at AIP. Funicello asks McBain's permission to go after Fabian, which is very polite of her - McBain says no, but Funicello still has a crack, which is perhaps less nice.
The cast lacks a bit of star power, but is still solid. Warren Berlinger turns in a strong performance as Funnicello’s boyfriend who is trained by Fabian and becomes his rival (wouldn’t be a stock car racing film without rivalry). Richard Rush's direction keeps things going at a fast pace. Enjoyable stock car stuff.
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