The newspaper announcing the race is an altered version of the Chicago Sunday Tribune's front page for November 1, 1942, with the main headline changed to "Hare Races Tortoise Today" and pictures of Cecil and Bugs inserted. The smaller headlines are from the actual newspaper, except for one of the secondary headlines which reads "Adolph Hitler Commits Suicide".
A blueprint of Cecil's turtle shell is shown at one point in the cartoon. In the bottom right-hand corner of the blueprint the name Sasanoff is visible. This is a reference to Robert Clampett's layout artist Michael Sasanoff.
This cartoon is available on Blu-ray, beautifully restored in high definition, in the Looney Tunes Platinum Collection, Volume 2.
The secret weapon Bugs holds up is a pair of WWII gasoline ration cards.
The dialog between Bugs (in his old-timer disguise) and Cecil is drawn heavily from catch phrases used in the radio program, Fibber McGee and Molly. (Example: "That ain't the way I heered it, Johnny!")