Long before the surge of sports docuseries on various OTT platforms, with the latest being ‘NASCAR: Full Speed’, there was a time when fictional sports movies dominated the scene. In the realm of NASCAR-themed cinema, ‘Days of Thunder’, featuring Hollywood icon Tom Cruise, was a standout.
For those unfamiliar, the movie trails the journey of Cruise’s character, Cole Trickle, as he competes in the revered NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Trickle, a United States Auto Club (USAC) driver, now known as IndyCar, finds himself drafted to race in the Cup Series. His journey in the premier stock car racing series, under the mentorship of his crew chief Harry Hogge, forms the movie’s gripping narrative.
Recently, behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the cult classic flick surfaced. Filming locations spanned across Charlotte, Daytona, and Phoenix Raceway, the last of which was particularly relevant given the recently held race there. The released footage showcases the scenes shot at the Phoenix Raceway, where Cruise took the reins.
The filming of ‘Days of Thunder’ commenced in 1989, a year before its release. To maintain secrecy, the project initially bore the codename ‘Daytona’, later changed to ‘Top Run’, before finally settling on the title we know today. Cruise, in his on-screen persona, was pitted against top Winston Cup drivers, skillfully maneuvering the #46 car in the staged races.
The behind-the-scenes footage reveals that the filming of a mock race lasted approximately an hour. The narrative took a dramatic turn when Trickle, driving the green and yellow #46 car, met with an accident and was rushed to the hospital. The wrap-up of the filming drew crowds of fans eager to catch a glimpse of their favorite Hollywood star, Tom Cruise.
Directed by Tony Scott, the man behind ‘Top Gun’, and scored by Hans Zimmer, ‘Days of Thunder’ was a strategic attempt to bring stock car racing into the Hollywood mainstream. Despite receiving mixed reviews at its release, the movie’s popularity soared over time, especially among the racing community.
Over the years, ‘Days of Thunder’ came to be known as ‘Top Gun on Wheels’, a title it has proudly embraced. The movie’s legacy continues to inspire efforts to revive NASCAR’s former glory. While a large-scale film may not be on the cards, NASCAR is making strides in the realm of OTT platforms.
Speculations about a sequel to ‘Days of Thunder’ are rife, even though concrete plans seem distant. After all, it took ‘Top Gun’ 36 years to get a sequel. Adding fuel to the speculation, Cruise is reportedly in talks about a ‘Days of Thunder’ sequel, although the expected timeframe remains unclear.
To date, the only confirmed NASCAR-themed content is the ‘NASCAR: Full Speed’ docuseries, which received an overwhelmingly positive response from both hardcore fans and casual viewers. The second season is expected soon, creating a buzz of anticipation. Unfortunately, NASCAR’s representation in cinema has been sparse since ‘Days of Thunder’.
The Herbie movie franchise brought NASCAR to a younger demographic with ‘Herbie: Fully Loaded’ in 2004. The animated movie ‘Cars’ followed in 2006, alongside the comedy ‘Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby’ featuring Will Ferrell. There was a lull in NASCAR-themed movies until ‘Logan Lucky’ in 2017, excluding documentaries. If Cruise manages to get a sequel to ‘Days of Thunder’ greenlit, it could be the fillip NASCAR needs in Hollywood.
