The year was 1977 and The Bandit is hired to run a tractor trailer full of beer over county lines in hot pursuit by a pesky sheriff.  It starred Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason and Jerry Reed, 'Smokey and the Bandit' was the fastest movie to hit the big screen.  And 37 years later, the part of Burt Reynolds is being re-done, in a shorter version, by three time Sprint Cup Champion, Tony Stewart.

Stewart was six years old when the movie hit the big screen, but it has always been his favorite movie.

They asked me what my favorite movie was just in casual conversation one day. … I said 'Smokey and the Bandit.' I have always loved that movie, loved the Trans-Am.

Tony Stewart is starring in a series of videos endorsing sponsor Mobil 1 as the Trans-Am driving Bandit.  The ads will also feature former three-time Cup champ Darrell Waltrip as the late Jerry Reed’s character, Cledus,  and championship winning crew chief Jeff Hammond as Sheriff Buford T. Justice.

Stewart says that with Mobil 1, he's always able to do some fun things.

We got to do the seat swap with Lewis Hamilton at Watkins Glen in the Formula One car. I got to drive a tank the next year. They taught me how to drift, which was fun. … They always want to do something fun, something we are going to enjoy.

The six part video series officially launched last week, and has two segments being released every couple days with the complete series available in a single-play episode Tuesday, March 25.  To watch the segments, go to Mobil 1's Youtube Channel.

Stewart actually owns a Trans-Am, similar to the one that is driven by the Bandit in the movie, and watching his favorite movie 'Smokey and the Bandit' is something that is done by him and his friends before they take a vacation.  Stewart adds that they recite the movie line by line.

It was July 3rd, 2013, when Tony Stewart brought the largest crowd in the history of Huset's Speedway to Brandon.  The crowd was on the edge of their seats watching Tony lead the race.  With only a few laps to go, Stewart spun-out coming out of turn 4.  Watch the huge disappointment for not only the fans, but Tony as well. 

But Huset's Promotion Director and Track Announcer Mark Tassler has some good news for not only Tony Stewart fans, but all Huset's racing fans,

There are hopes....high hopes...of Tony rescheduling another visit to Huset's to get that win he just about had.

Here's the first segment of the six part video series for Mobil 1 the Tony Stewart version of 'Smoke IS the Bandit'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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