‘Days of Thunder’ Sequel Continues NASCAR’s Push For The Spotlight

The NASCAR weekend at Daytona International Speedway was destined to be significant. It marked the final race for both the Chase in the Cup Series and the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series. With a new rules package in effect, the event was charged with heightened excitement. The weekend concluded with first-time victors in both the Friday O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race and Saturday's Cup Series event.

Ryan Sieg claimed his maiden NOAPS victory after 424 starts, while Ryan Preece secured his inaugural Cup win, despite starting the race 31 points behind his competitor, SVG. Preece's triumph propelled him into the Chase, while SVG was eliminated. Off-track, a major headline emerged before Saturday's Coke Zero Sugar 400. "Days of Thunder," the 1990 NASCAR film starring Tom Cruise, was set to release a sequel in summer 2028, furthering NASCAR's initiative to achieve a presence on the big screen.

NASCAR's foray into the entertainment industry has been expanding in recent years. Earlier projects include the Netflix docuseries "NASCAR: Full Speed," which covered the 2023 and 2024 NASCAR playoffs, offering a behind-the-scenes look at top drivers. The series was renewed in 2024, featuring Joey Logano, Blaney, Byron, and Tyler Reddick among other stars.

Additionally, NASCAR collaborated with Prime Video to create "Full Speed: Daytona 500," showcasing the 2025 Great American Race, and a documentary on Kyle Larson's attempt at winning both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in 2025. This summer's announcement of the "Days of Thunder" sequel marks NASCAR's continued commitment to showcasing the sport on the big screen.

Paramount Pictures will produce the film, with Tom Cruise reprising his role as Cole Trickle from the original. Anne Hathaway is set to play a race team owner. Cruise unveiled the project with a picture of himself and Hathaway alongside the original green and yellow No. 46 car, with "summer 2028" written on the side, indicating the sequel's release date.