The Southern 500 auto race is the setting for Thunder In Carolina. Mitch (Rory Calhoun) is a race car driver who talks Les (John Gentry) into leaving his service repair station for the fast lane of stock car racing. Buddy (Alan Hale)is the former racer turned mechanic who helps Mitch on and off the track. Mitch takes his eye off the road long enough to make a play for the station owner's wife.