When Dom gets back in the airplane after getting beer, Burt is discussing cars with him to use in the race. He says they could use a black Trans-Am. Then he says that it's been done before. It has. Remember that movie called Smokey and the Bandit?

When J.J. is convincing Pamela to stay with them, Victor tells her "...and just think - we have a licensed physician on board in case somebody gets...swamp fever." Victor is played by Dom Deluise who played a doctor in "Smokey and the Bandit 2" who was first seen treating someone for swamp fever.

Script writer Brock Yates (who also has a bit part as the officiator at the beginning of the race) had Steve McQueen in mind when he created the lead role of JJ, but McQueen died right before casting for the movie, so Burt Reynolds was then chosen to be cast in the role of JJ.