Car salesman Wallace Reid (as Walter Thomas "Toodles" Walden) wants to win the triple crown in a big auto race. His boss, Theodore Roberts (as J.D. "The Bear" Ward), has won two of the three races, and thinks Mr. Reid may muss up the company's winning streak. Roberts decides to test Reid's mettle; but, the plan backfires, and his crack-car salesman quits. Meanwhile, Reid courts Roberts' daughter, Ann Little (as Dorothy "The Cub" Ward). She is the only thing Reid wants more than winning the big race; however, Roberts wants her to wait five years before wedding. Can Reid win both the big race and the girl?
Scenery and cigar chewing Roberts threatens to steal the film from its star; but the likable Reid overtakes Roberts after a contest to see who can pound his desk hardest. In jail for speeding, Reid memorably asks a rat, "How fast were you going?" Car and train racing along the Los Angeles and San Francisco locale provided an exciting ending; at one point, the car and train might collide!
"The Roaring Road" brought in box office returns at great speed; and, Reid quickly became the #1 United States Box Office star; understandably, several follow-up films raced into theaters, including outright sequel "Excuse My Dust!" (1920) ******.
