Hal Needham, longtime stuntman and director of ‘Smokey and the Bandit” and ‘Cannonball Run” for Burt Reynolds, died Friday in Los Angeles after a short battle with cancer, his manager confirmed. He was 82.( Varity ) Needham was a co-owner of a Winston Cup team with buddy [actor] Burt Reynolds. From 1981 to 89 Hal and Burts #33 Skoal Bandit car won nine races and 13 poles and barely missed winning the 1984 Cup title. The pilot of that ride was Harry Gant.(see more at ESPN.com )
