The greatest race is about to commence in the American Old West, with thousands gathered in San Diego for a chance at winning fifty million dollars over six thousand kilometers. As the era of horse racing comes to an end, competitors can use any vehicle they desire. They will face grueling conditions, traveling up to one hundred kilometers per day through uncharted wastelands. The Steel Ball Run is truly unique.
Johnny Joestar, a young man who has been crippled and previously raced horses, arrives in San Diego to witness the start of the race. There he encounters Gyro Zeppeli, a racer with two steel balls attached to his waist instead of guns. Johnny observes Gyro using one of his steel balls to unleash an incredible power, compelling a man to shoot himself during a duel. Inadvertently, Johnny touches the steel ball and feels a surge of energy coursing through his legs, allowing him to stand up for the first time in two years. Driven by curiosity about the steel balls' secret, Johnny decides to compete in the race, marking the beginning of an unusual journey across America on the Steel Ball Run.
JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken Part 7: Steel Ball Run was originally presented as an unrelated story to the JoJo series and was serialized in Weekly Shounen Jump magazine as Steel Ball Run from issues #8~47 2004. Serialization then transferred to Ultra Jump magazine from issue May 2005 and the series was officially declared as Part 7 of the JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken series.