NASCAR may be heading to the big screen once again. Four-time Cup Series Champion Jeff Gordon is trying to convince his friend, Hollywood Superstar Tom Cruise to star in a sequel of ‘Days of Thunder’, and has been in touch with the 62-year-old to make the project come to life. With films such as Ford vs Ferrari succeeding commercially in recent years, producers Paramount are optimistic that they could work their magic on a sequel of the 1990 film, even though the original movie received mixed to negative reviews.

Despite talks being held behind the scenes, will Tom Cruise agree to star in a sequel to the cult classic, 35 years after ‘Days of Thunder’ originally aired? Time will tell. However, Jeff Gordon will do his best to convince the Hollywood superstar to take a chance.

Jeff Gordon optimistic about the Days of Thunder sequel

“Rubbin’, son, is racin”, said crew chief Harry Hogge (played by Robert Duvall) in Days of Thunder. The iconic line remains etched in the memory of many long-term NASCAR enthusiasts, who are eager to see Tom Cruise reprise the iconic ‘Cole Trickle’ on the big screen once again. At first glance, the decision to revive the racing drama seems bold, especially since the film wasn’t considered a big box office success, making $157 million globally with a production budget of $60 million. However, the potential is endless and Rick Hendrick could reprise his role as ‘technical advisor’ in a potential sequel as well.

However, Jeff Gordon remains optimistic about a successful sequel, saying, “I’ve absolutely talked to Tom about it because I want him to do the project. We want to be a part of it if it were to happen.” The Hendrick Motorsports vice-chairman went on to say, “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.”

NASCAR took notice when their motorsports competitors at Formula 1 dropped ‘Drive to Survive‘ in 2019, giving insights into the lives of the open-wheel drivers. In 2024, NASCAR released its own docuseries to keep up with the trend. ‘NASCAR: Full Speed‘ was a hit, and will be returning to Netflix in April 2025. However, while docuseries provide fans with behind-the-scenes of their favorite drivers, it’s movies like ‘ Days of Thunder’ that really tap into the nostalgia of the sport. So it’s no surprise that the 1990s NASCAR legend wants to relive that era with his close buddy on screen again.

It’s no secret that Jeff Gordon and Tom Cruise are great friends. The Hollywood superstar showed up to the 2015 NASCAR banquet held as a tribute to the retiring driver, and said, “I’m honored to introduce a legend who has meant so much to the sport over the last two decades.” Given their rapport, it won’t be surprising if the ‘Mission Impossible’ star is convinced to take over the ambitious project, which could feature on the big screens nearly four decades after the original movie. However, will Tom Cruise fit the bill at the age of 62?

You bet he will! Tom Cruise’s appeal is timeless. Few believed that a Top Gun sequel would be successful, but the 2022 blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick proved that a good script can do wonders for any ambitious project. With racing movies being the trend in Hollywood, Paramount will be looking to capitalize on the public interest and make hay while the sun shines. Back in 2013, iconic Hollywood director Quentin Tarantino said, “Hands down my favorite [racing movie] is Days of Thunder.” If the Pulp Fiction director feels so strongly about the racing drama, who are we to think otherwise?

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Gordon sees resurgence in NASCAR projects

Interest in stock car racing seems to be at an all-time high. Whether it’s the Netflix docuseries NASCAR Full Speed or the on-track drama in the Cup Series, fans are hungry for more content about the sport. Recognizing the demand, the sanctioning body recently expressed its intention to grow its YouTube platform, following Formula 1’s blueprint to give fans the kind of content that will satiate existing subscribers, and expand the fanbase by tapping into new markets. Given the circumstances, Jeff Gordon believes the time is right to strike while the iron is still hot.

Sharing his thoughts about the market trend, the Hendrick Motorsports executive said, “I am seeing just a lot more momentum in projects like coming through NASCAR and coming to Hendrick Motorsports and just more interest. So that’s good, right?” Jeff Gordon said, “I do think that 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.”

While Jeff Gordon will hope that a ‘Days of Thunder’ sequel materializes, the 53-year-old will not be putting all his eggs in the same basket. The 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona winner recognizes the market potential in producing NASCAR content and will capitalize on the opportunity while he can. It would be interesting to see the veteran racer involved in media projects outside his traditional role as vice president of Hendrick Motorsports. Could his future in motorsports lie beyond the role of a motorsports executive? That remains to be seen.