This episode marks the first credited appearance of recurring guest star Bevin Prince (Bevin).

Bethany Joy Lenz (Haley), who shows off her cheerleading moves in this episode, starred in the cheerleading movie Bring It On Again.

This episode feature obvious product placement for Secret brand deodorant.

The cheerleading competition segment of this episode was filmed at UNCW's Trask Collesium.

Haley: They needed an extra. What do you think?
Lucas: I think you look kind of ridiculous.
Haley: You do realize that both your former girlfriends are cheerleaders. Oh right, excuse me. I guess I'm not allowed to have any fun.
Lucas: That's not it.
Haley: Yeah, that is it. I'm having a good time, I'm happy. I'd think that my friends would be happy for me too.

Haley: You were rooting for Nathan.
Lucas: I was rooting for the team.
Haley: Whatever you say.

Whitey: You two are my chaperones. A lot of these kids think that the Classic is an excuse to party all weekend. It’s your job to see that that doesn’t happen. (Whitey leaves)
Karen: Oh we don’t have a prayer. I used to be one of these kids.
Larry: You? I’ve got a beer bong in my over night bag.

Whitey: Listen up. We’ve got a team meeting in the conference room right after dinner. Lights out at nine o’clock. Consider your room assignments final.
Lucas: You’ve got to be kidding me.
Whitey: Alphabetical order. Scott. Scott. Unalterable.
Nathan: You should have changed your name.

Lucas: Hey. You were really amazing out there.
Haley: Yeah? I thought maybe I looked ridiculous.
Lucas: Look. So I was thinking. Things have been different since you started dating Nathan.
Haley: I don’t spend anymore time with him than you did with Brooke.
Lucas: I know. I know and he’s…your boyfriend. Of course you’ll want to be with him. It’s just, I guess I miss my friend.
Haley: Luke. I miss you too. But have you thought about how hard this is on my juggling the two of you guys? Luke, you’re really important to me. I care about you. But Nathan is important to me too. And if you want to be a part of my life, eventually, sooner or later, you’re gonna have to be a part of his too.

When Whitey is lecturing Karen and Larry, a man in the background appears and disappears between shots.

During the episode Lucas wears his backpack on this right shoulder with no pain, but when Haley so much as touches his shoulder, Lucas winces in pain.

During cheer practice at the beginning of the episode, Brooke sets her Gatorade down twice when she tells the squad that the break’s over.

Episode Title: Spirit in the Night

"Spirit in the Night" is the title of a song by Bruce Springsteen from his Greetings From Asbury Park N.J. album.

Karen: Deb, you're not Mommie Dearest.

Mommy Dearest is a book by Joan Crawford, that was later turned into a movie, about her mother and the abuse she gave her family.

The cheerleading/basketball competiton theme will later be explored in "All Tomorrow's Parties". However, in the season 3 episode, scenes of the basketball game are shown, but in this episode the cheer competition is the only part of The Classic shown.