Tom Cruise stunned NASCAR chief by asking to compete in real ARCA race

Tom Cruise reportedly surprised NASCAR chief executive Steve O’Donnell by asking whether he could compete in a real race ahead of the planned Days of Thunder sequel.

O’Donnell revealed the actor’s unusual request during an interview with Front Office Sports, explaining that Cruise was interested in entering a race in the ARCA series, a lower tier of stock car racing connected to NASCAR.

“I was shocked,” O’Donnell said, recalling their conversation. He added that he was unsure whether the idea would become reality, although Cruise wanted the upcoming film to feel as authentic as possible.

Cruise played fictional rookie driver Cole Trickle in the original Days of Thunder, released in 1990. The film helped bring NASCAR racing to a wider audience, and the sport’s leadership hopes the follow up can generate similar interest decades later.

The sequel, announced in August 2026, is expected to star Cruise alongside Anne Hathaway and is reportedly planned for release in 2028. NASCAR is involved in the project, with discussions focusing on how the film can reflect the sport as it operates today.

O’Donnell said Cruise wanted audiences to understand modern racing, including the technology involved in preparing cars, the competition format and the points system. NASCAR hopes these details will help newcomers follow the action and feel more connected to the sport.

Cruise attended the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway in August, where he met drivers and spoke with racing figures. The visit coincided with the announcement of the new film.

The actor has also emphasised that the story should capture the people and community behind the races, alongside the speed and danger associated with the sport.

Although Cruise’s request to enter an actual ARCA event appears unlikely to happen, his reported interest reflects the production’s emphasis on realism. NASCAR is hoping the film will introduce its racing culture to fresh audiences while showing existing fans how the sport has evolved since the original movie.