Both The Cannonball Run (1981) and Cannonball Run II (1984) were directed by legendary stuntman/filmmaker Hal Needham, with the first written by Brock Yates, who created the actual race the movie series is based on.
The 1984 sequel Cannonball Run II dropped off considerably, earning just $28 million.
After languishing in development hell since 2011, Warner Bros. is moving forward once again on their Cannonball Run remake, with Doug Liman in early talks to direct.
After the last Cannonball Run, a new race called the U.S. Express was formed but it only lasted a few years.