In 1990, Hollywood star Tom Cruise stepped into the world of stock car racing with Days of Thunder. The film, inspired by real-life NASCAR stories, showcased Cruise as Cole Trickle, a young and fearless open-wheel racer, making the leap to NASCAR. The movie featured high-speed action, intense rivalries, and a love story with Dr. Claire Lewicki, played by Nicole Kidman.
One of the most iconic moments in the film is when Lewicki, impressed with Cole’s speed, praises him. In response, Cole Trickle aka Tom Cruise says, “You oughta see me drive.” But what if I told you that Cruise didn’t just act like a NASCAR driver? What if he actually raced for real—not on a movie set, but on an actual short track, in an actual late model, and with Nicole Kidman’s life in his hands? And, shockingly, he almost beat a NASCAR champion with his speed and skills.
Tom Cruise races against NASCAR champion
Long before Days of Thunder hit theatres, NASCAR Truck Series legend Jack Sprague had an unforgettable encounter with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman at Concord Speedway. While appearing on The Dale Jr. Download podcast, Sprague shared a wild story from 1989 that had never been widely known. He confessed how Rick Hendrick and Tom Cruise raced against him while Kidman was hanging on an X-bar.
It all started in 1989 when Sprague was dominating the short-track scene at Concord. One day, he got a call from a friend at Hendrick Motorsports, Jimmy Johnson (not the seven-time Cup champion, but the guy who ran Hendrick’s operations). Johnson asked if Sprague could bring his car to the track because Rick Hendrick had a “buddy” who wanted to drive. Sprague was hesitant. This was his only car, and he was leading the points that season. But Johnson reassured him and said, “If something happens, it’ll be all right.”
When Sprague arrived at the track, he saw a limousine pull up. Out stepped Tom Cruise, followed by Nicole Kidman. “Holy s—, this is big,” Sprague thought. Hendrick and Cruise had rented out the track to “play” with real stock cars. Cruise had already been training for his role in Days of Thunder, and Sprague quickly realized the Hollywood actor wasn’t just there for fun—he could actually drive. “They weren’t three or four-tenths off what I was running. He was really good,” Sprague recalled.
Then came the moment that made Sprague nervous. Kidman, dressed casually, wanted to ride along. The problem? The Super Late Model had no passenger seat—just a bare metal interior with an X-bar. Despite this, Kidman climbed inside, holding onto the roll cage. But what scared him was Cruise behind the wheel. He was pushing the limits, running aggressive lap times with Kidman hanging on for dear life.
“He goes out there with her, and he’s—Tom Cruise—only three-tenths slower. And he’s running by himself. I’m like, “Oh no.” “Yeah, that’s crazy.” If he hit something, there’s going to be parts everywhere,” Sprague recalled. Fortunately, Cruise kept control and completed the run without incident. But looking back, Sprague admitted it was a risky moment that could have ended in disaster.
Notably, this wasn’t the first time Cruise had been behind the wheel of a race car. He took his Days of Thunder role seriously, training with real NASCAR teams to ensure authenticity. A few months ago, Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared a video showing Cruise racing professionally in the 1980s with Paul Newman’s team. The clip showed Cruise tearing around Summit Point Raceway in a spec-made Nissan, proving his natural talent behind the wheel.
Cruise’s intense training paid off, and his performance in Days of Thunder became legendary among racing fans. Even after the movie, he continued his involvement in motorsports. In 2011, Red Bull Racing invited him to test a Formula 1 car at Willow Springs, where he reportedly matched competitive lap times. Notably, NASCAR Hall of Fame Jeff Gordon recently asked Tom Cruise to remake the iconic film.
Will Gordon’s Days of Thunder 2 idea Cruise?
Jack Sprague’s wild story might be decades old, but Tom Cruise’s connection to NASCAR isn’t over yet. In a surprising twist, Jeff Gordon recently hinted that Cruise might be making a comeback in the NASCAR world. Gordon, now an executive at Hendrick Motorsports, has been pushing for the Days of Thunder sequel. With streaming platforms booming and NASCAR gaining renewed interest, now might be the perfect time for Cruise to return.
A few weeks ago, Gordon revealed that he discussed with Cruise about a possible reunion. “I want him to do the project, and we want to be a part of it if it were to happen.” Notably, with technology improving, capturing real NASCAR action for the big screen is easier than ever. Smaller cameras, better onboard footage, and NASCAR’s push for media expansion could make a sequel more realistic than ever.
It’s worth noting that Formula 1 is also making a film about the sport. The film, starring Brad Pitt, was shot during the real Grand Prix events. Notably, seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton is producing the film along with Mercedes’ support. The film will hit theatres this summer. Its success might push Tom Cruise and NASCAR to make a reunion.
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