Straightaway

Champion automobile racer Tim Dawson is pressured by his employer, racecar manufacturer Turnberg, to allow Turnberg's son Carl to win an important race at Altoona. Infuriated by Tim's refusal and his continual triumphs over Carl, Turnberg fires him and his brother Billy, Tim's mechanic, whom he is training to be a driver. At the same race, Turnberg's chief competitor, "Pop" Reeves, discovers that Turnberg has bribed his lead driver Rogan to lose. After dismissing Rogan, Pop hires Tim and Billy, much to the delight of his daughter Ann, who is in love with Tim. Pop completes the building of a new racecar, which Tim insists that Billy drive. Billy has profited from Tim's tutoring and quickly becomes known as a "boy wonder." Tim is content to let Billy have all of the glory, even with Ann, and the romantic situation is further complicated by Billy's love for her. Billy proposes to Ann, but she refuses, and he then overhears as she tries to propose to Tim. The embittered Billy is then a prime target for Rogan, who has been ordered by Turnberg to end the Dawson brothers' winning streak. The night before a race at Elgin, Rogan attempts to get Billy drunk but is prevented from doing so by Tim. The next day, Billy, still resentful of Tim's interference, begins the race. Rogan intends to force Billy off the track and kill him in what will appear to be an accident, but Tim quickly grows wise to the scheme and alerts Billy to the danger, although he accidentally forces Rogan to crash. A detective, who hears the fatally injured Rogan accuse Tim of trying to kill him, is soon bribed by Turnberg to pressure Tim. The detective threatens to arrest Tim for manslaughter if he does not stop Billy from winning at Indianapolis. Tim refuses, but Billy overhears the threat and deliberately drives slowly. When Billy makes a pit stop, Tim jumps in the car beside him and forces his brother to drive like the champion he is. After Billy wins the race, Ann displays a confession about the conspiracy that she has obtained from Rogan's mechanic. With Tim cleared and Billy established as a driver, Tim and Ann are now free to marry.