Rufus jokes that smuggler/racer Wendell Scott made the Fall Creek run, "...in less than 12 parsecs." This is a reference to the famous Han Solo line from Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) about the Kessel Run. Wendell also has hidden smuggling cargo compartments in his car that Wyatt and Lucy have to hide in at one point, much like Han Solo did.
While smuggling Wyatt and Lucy into the racetrack, Wendell calling Rufus his cousin George is an amusing in-joke; in addition to Rufus, his character from the "Bill & Ted" films, George Carlin is Rufus' namesake.
Nicholas states they are creating 'perfection' through Rittenhouse. The two rivals Carol Preston (Susanna Thompson) and Emma Whitmore (Annie Wersching) both play Star Trek's Borg Queen, leading a race of cyborgs who seek to create perfection (and have been known to be time sensitive and travel through time). Emma also refers to Lucy Preston as a Rittenhouse 'Princess', making her mother Carol a 'Queen'.