What's happened
Drivers have expressed interest in cameo roles for the Days of Thunder sequel, with filming set to begin next year. Tom Cruise has engaged with drivers at Daytona and networked with writers, while Hendrick Motorsports could be involved again and Jeff Gordon has pushed for the project.
What's behind the headline?
Key questions raised by the coverage
- What draws stars like Logano, Briscoe, and Larson to cameo roles in a classic NASCAR film?
- How will Hendrick Motorsports’ past involvement shape the sequel’s production?
- What new dynamics could the movie introduce about modern NASCAR?
Forecast
- The project will push NASCAR visibility globally, attracting new fans and potential sponsorships.
- Production will likely secure team involvement to bring authenticity to race scenes.
How we got here
The Days of Thunder sequel is in development, with Tom Cruise exploring involvement and dialogue with drivers and teams. Original film collaborators and sponsors are being considered for participation, while production aims for a 2028 release.
Our analysis
AP News and Independent report on the reveal that Tom Cruise is pursuing a Days of Thunder sequel, with drivers expressing interest in cameos and discussions with writers. Hendrick Motorsports’ past involvement is noted, along with Jeff Gordon’s support for the project.
Go deeper
- Will more drivers push for cameos as filming approaches?
- Could Hendrick Motorsports’ involvement affect who participates?
- When might we hear official casting and plot details?
More on these topics
-
Anne Hathaway - American actress
Anne Jacqueline Hathaway is an American actress. The recipient of many awards, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe, she was one of the highest-paid actresses in the world in 2015.
-
Daytona International Speedway - Sports facility in Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, the most prestigious race in NASCAR as well as its season opening event.
-
NASCAR - Company
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock-car racing.
-
Days of Thunder - 1990 film
Days of Thunder is a 1990 American sports action drama film released by Paramount Pictures, produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Tony Scott.
-
Tom Cruise - American actor
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV is an American actor and producer. He has received various accolades for his work, including three Golden Globe Awards and three nominations for Academy Awards.
-
Rusty Wallace - American racing driver
Russell William "Rusty" Wallace Jr. (born August 14, 1956) is an American former NASCAR racing driver. He won the 1984 NASCAR Cup series Rookie of the Year and the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Championship. For the accolades over the course of his successful..
-
Chase Briscoe - American motorsports racing driver
Chase David Wayne Briscoe is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 14 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing and part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 08 Mustang f
-
Richard Petty - American race car driver
Richard Lee Petty, nicknamed "The King", is an American former stock car racing driver who raced from 1958 to 1992 in the former NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series, most notably driving the No. 43 Plymouth/Pontiac for Petty Enterprises.
-
Hendrick Motorsports - American racecar team
Hendrick Motorsports is an American professional auto racing organization that competes in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series. The team was founded in 1984 as All-Star Racing by Rick Hendrick. Hendrick Motorsports has won a NASCAR-record 322 Cup Series races and 15 Cup Series owners and drivers championships to go with three Truck Series owners and drivers titles and one O'Reilly Auto Parts Series drivers crown. Additionally, the team has 32 O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race wins, 26 Truck Series race wins, and seven ARCA Menards Series race wins. Hendrick Motorsports fields four full-time Cup Series teams with the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1; the No. 5 for Kyle Larson, the No. 9 for Chase Elliott, the No. 24 for William Byron, and the No. 48 for Alex Bowman. The team also fields the No. 17 Chevrolet Camaro team full-time for Corey Day in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series. Hendrick Motorsports also fielded several trucks in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, most recently for Elliott in 2013. The team has fielded cars in the past for many NASCAR drivers, including Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Terry Labonte, Darrell Waltrip, Benny Parsons, Dale Earnhardt...
-
Kyle Larson - American racing driver (born 1992)
Kyle Miyata Larson (born July 31, 1992) is an American professional racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports and part-time in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro SS for JR Motorsports. Before and throughout his stock car racing career, Larson has been highly successful in dirt track racing, with wins in several prestigious events including the Kings Royal, Knoxville Nationals, and the Chili Bowl Nationals. He also won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2015 with CGR. Larson is the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year and the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year. He won the NASCAR Cup Series Championship in 2021 and 2025. Larson was named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023.
-
Jeff Gordon - American race car driver
Jeffery Michael Gordon is an American former professional stock car racing driver, currently an announcer for Fox NASCAR, and a top executive for Hendrick Motorsports. He raced full-time from 1993 to 2015, driving the No.