Tom Cruise Eyes ARCA Track Time Ahead of Days of Thunder Sequel, Says NASCAR CEO

An interview with Front Office Sports on Tuesday saw NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell discuss a range of topics, including the highly anticipated Days of Thunder sequel starring Tom Cruise as fictional driver Cole Trickle, with Anne Hathaway co-starring and the film slated for a summer 2028 release.

O’Donnell revealed that Cruise actively sought the opportunity to race an ARCA car ahead of the movie, noting the actor’s reputation for performing his own stunts, including the daring action sequences characteristic of the Mission Impossible franchise. Below the top three NASCAR divisions, ARCA serves as the fourth level of stock car racing.

At 64 years old, Cruise’s age is notable but far from a record in ARCA competition. Multiple drivers have exceeded that age in recent years, with the late James Hylton competing in ARCA at 78 years old in 2013, the all-time record.

“I was shocked,” O’Donnell said of Cruise’s proposal. “We have an ARCA Series, which is our national touring series, and Tom wanted to go race in one of those. I’m not certain that will happen, but he seeks authenticity to the fullest. We’ll see how the story lines play out…”

In 1987, Cruise participated in a test session with a NASCAR Busch Series car (now the O’Reilly Series) at Daytona, reaching 178 mph for Hendrick Motorsports.

While the 1990 film captured a different era of NASCAR, today’s sport is more refined and technologically advanced, yet still considerably rougher than most top-level motorsports globally. The new movie aims to encapsulate the distinctive culture within NASCAR.

O’Donnell also confirmed that the series plans to construct at least 80 vehicles for the film’s production.

“I think the first one showcased what NASCAR was at the time, a long time ago, and in speaking with Tom Cruise while he was at Daytona, it’s all about where we are today and moving forward,” O’Donnell added. “It’s embracing the technology, embracing everything that goes into the sport, rather than a car being assembled back in a garage.”

Tom’s message to NASCAR was clear: “I’m going to put you in front of an entirely new audience, and you need to be ready.” He indicated collaboration on educating new fans about the points system, the Chase format, race durations, and other elements to ensure newcomers understand the sport. For NASCAR, this opens a whole new door to attract fresh audiences.

O’Donnell has been conducting recent interviews highlighting the sport’s current state and future direction. The full interview with Front Office Sports is available for viewing here.

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