Greased Lightning (1977)

Interesting facts

Greased Lightning is a 1977 American biographical film starring Richard Pryor, Beau Bridges, and Pam Grier, and directed by Michael Schultz. The film is based loosely on the true life story of Wendell Scott, the first Black NASCAR race winner and later a 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee.

Production

Greased Lightning was filmed partially in Winder, Georgia; Athens, Georgia at the former Athens Speedway; Madison, Georgia; and Middle Georgia Raceway in Byron, Georgia. Richie Havens provided the soundtrack.

Pryor and co-star Cleavon Little had previously worked on Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles in 1974, with Pryor co-writing the screenplay and Little playing the starring role of Sheriff Bart, a role that Brooks had initially wanted to cast Pryor in before 20th Century Fox refused to approve Pryor's casting (reportedly citing his history of drug-related arrests).

In actuality, Scott's one victory in a NASCAR Grand National Series race occurred in 1963 when it was found hours after the race was over that Scott had finished first while lapping the field (2nd place Buck Baker had been believed to be the winner). Scott did not get the trophy but received the money.

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