The song "She's like the wind" was originally written by Patrick Swayze for "Grandview USA" as a love theme for the characters played by him and Jamie Lee Curtis. It was scrapped due to the comedic and somewhat raunchy nature of the film. The track would later eventually be used three years later in Swayze's film 'Dirty Dancing' (1987).
While filming in Pontiac, Illinois, the night the demolition derby scene was shot was very cold. Since it was supposed to be summertime, the extras hired to sit in the grandstand were dressed in shorts and shirts. To stay warm, they would bundle up in coats and hats and just before the camera would roll, they would throw off the coats and sit on them.
Kevin Costner was offered the role of Tim Pearson which in the end was cast with actor C. Thomas Howell.
Cast members C. Thomas Howell and Jennifer Jason Leigh would both later appear about a couple of years later in 'The Hitcher' (1986) and then about thirty years later in 'LBJ' (2016).
Cast members Patrick Swayze and C. Thomas Howell both appeared in the same year's 'Red Dawn' (1984) and had both co-starred the previous year in 'The Outsiders' (1983).