The film premiered in June 1977, three months before Evel Knievel and his associates attacked promoter Shelly Saltman with an aluminum baseball bat on September 21, 1977. With Knievel losing most of his sponsorship and marketing deals as a result of the bad publicity, the film became much less commercially attractive, only opening in four further international markets after Knievel's conviction. In addition, the wholesome image of Knievel the movie promoted and the plot point concerning Knievel's promoter being corrupt seemed ill-judged in the light of the events that saw Knievel imprisoned. As a result, the film fell into comparative obscurity until the DVD release.
The more difficult stunts in the film were performed by stunt man Gary Lee Davis, though that fact was kept under wraps during the original release of the film.
Silent partner Irwin Allen ended up directing 80% of this movie after director Gordon Douglas became ill early in the production.
There is a scene where Evel spots his friend and competitor Jessie (Marjoe Gortner), and races his bike up to him head-on, and Jessie (on foot) leaps over Evel's bike. This is actually a stunt that Evel used to do in his very early daredevil days (as the jumper), and even got seriously hurt once doing it.
The original footage used for Jessie's failed jump was from Evel Knievel's May 1975 crash at Wembley Stadium.