16-06-2025
Jeff Gordon and Tom Cruise Secretly Planning Days of Thunder Sequel
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Former NASCAR driver and chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, Jeff Gordon, acknowledged that a Hollywood boost is what NASCAR needs to grow and reach more people. Gordon revealed the idea of having a Days of Thunder sequel starring his friend and celebrity Tom Cruise, which he believes could help the sport reach the masses.
Gordon played a major role in boosting NASCAR's popularity back in 2003 by partnering with the entertainment industry, hosting 'Saturday Night Live,' appearing on 'The Late Show with David Letterman,' and showcasing his people-friendly personality that helped him become the face of the sport.
The 1990 film Days of Thunder starred Tom Cruise as Cole Trickle, a young driver who had just entered the world of open-wheel racing. However, a rivalry sparked between him and a veteran driver, but it was only through a dramatic crash between the two that their relationship evolved into friendship.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jeff Gordon (L) is introduced by actor Tom Cruise to accept the Bill France Award of Excellence onstage during the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards show at Wynn Las...
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jeff Gordon (L) is introduced by actor Tom Cruise to accept the Bill France Award of Excellence onstage during the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards show at Wynn Las Vegas on December 4, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. MoreWitnessing the rise of digital media and streaming platforms, Gordon feels this is the perfect time to produce Days of Thunder 2. Speaking on the SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, he said:
"Let's do Days of Thunder 2, I am all for that. Tom Cruise has told me it's gonna happen, so let's make it happen. I can't go back to driving, I am too old for that, so gonna have to be one of our four or all four of our Hendrick drivers, Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, William Byron. When I came into NASCAR, Days of Thunder had just come out. It played a huge role in the growth of NASCAR. So let's bring it back."
The NASCAR Hall of Famer confirmed at the Daytona 500 this year that he had spoken to Tom Cruise about the sequel and stressed that he wants his team to be a part of it. He said:
"I've absolutely talked to Tom about it because I want him to do the project, and we want to be a part of it if it were to happen."
Gordon acknowledged the role of streaming platforms in expanding NASCAR's popularity. He added:
"There's this kind of resurgence, which is awesome, and there's also a whole new landscape of opportunities with streaming services and docuseries and also the big screen, which I think it would be amazing to do.
"I am seeing just a lot more momentum in projects like this coming through NASCAR and coming to Hendrick Motorsports and just more interest. So that's good, right? It talks a lot about where the sport is at, where it's heading, the amazing crowd that was [at Daytona], not just today, new TV partners."
Gordon expressed confidence that NASCAR would appear on the big screen. He said:
"Cameras have gotten a lot smaller so maybe you could pull it off, but how do you do it and make it realistic and really authentic.
"We'll see what happens. If that doesn't happen, I feel pretty confident there's a project out there that will get NASCAR back on the big screen, if not just a really cool docuseries or something beyond even what we're already seeing right now."
Related: Ryan Blaney Breaks Down Real Reason For NASCAR's Disconnect With the Masses
