Hot rodder Richard Hartunian storms off after a spat with girlfriend Leigh Snowden. Shortly afterward, the car in which Leigh is driving is involved in a crack-up, injuring her and killing the driver. Since the car had been run off the road by a reckless driver, Hartunian is the Number One Suspect. Only on the eve of the Big Race is our hero exonerated. Also appearing in Hot Rod Rumble are Brett Halsey (future star of the immortal Speed Crazy), Wright King (late of Johnny Jupiter), and stand-up comic Joey Forman. The film was originally released on a double bill with Allied Artists' Calypso Joe. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi