Tom Cruise Confirms He’s Driving NASCAR for ‘Days of Thunder 2’

Tom Cruise has established a remarkable second career based on his commitment to performing his own stunts, whether it’s scaling the Burj Khalifa or piloting fighter jets in ‘Top Gun: Maverick.’ This reputation followed him to the racetrack this week as he made a significant public appearance to discuss his much-anticipated return to racing.

Cruise attended Daytona International Speedway ahead of NASCAR’s regular season finale, joining ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ for an extensive interview that covered topics from his new film ‘Digger’ to his eagerly awaited return as the fictional driver Cole Trickle. This visit served as an official confirmation that ‘Days of Thunder 2‘ is in the works, with Cruise announcing the sequel is set to hit theaters on June 2, 2028, alongside returning co-star Anne Hathaway.

Fans who thought Cruise would be safely behind a green screen for the racing scenes received an immediate answer. Tom Cruise confirmed he will be driving the actual NASCAR cars during the production of ‘Days of Thunder 2,’ stating to McAfee that if he’s making a movie about airplanes, he’s flying them, and in this case, that means he’s driving.

Cruise made clear that this decision wasn’t made lightly, explaining he has been contemplating bringing Cole Trickle back for quite some time. He shared his childhood experiences of racing cars on back roads before even obtaining his license, linking that personal history to why the character from ‘Days of Thunder’ has remained significant to him for over three decades since the original film’s release in 1990.

He also reflected on the origins of the project, recalling how he initially presented the original story to producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, with Tony Scott eventually directing. This same creative collaboration also helped launch ‘Top Gun’ around that time, and Cruise framed the new sequel as a way to reintroduce audiences to Cole Trickle’s world.

The discussion took a more somber turn as it touched on the film’s cast history. Robert Duvall, who portrayed Trickle’s crew chief and mentor in the original ‘Days of Thunder,’ passed away earlier this year, and Cruise addressed how the sequel plans to honor that loss on screen.

Cruise mentioned that audiences would witness how the film pays tribute once it releases, opting not to disclose too many details beforehand. He described the overall tone he aims to convey in the sequel as one rooted in joy and humor, highlighting NASCAR’s close-knit community as something he hopes to authentically represent on screen.

Beyond the personal stakes, Cruise’s commitment to driving real NASCAR cars underscores the hands-on production approach that has characterized his most successful films over the past decade. By addressing the NASCAR garage directly at Daytona and promising to treat the sport with respect during filming, the sequel seems poised to emphasize authenticity rather than relying solely on visual effects for its racing sequences.

With Hathaway’s confirmed return and a release date set for 2028, ‘Days of Thunder 2’ is gaining significant momentum nearly two years ahead of its theatrical debut.

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