The NASCAR community is currently buzzing with excitement following actor Tom Cruise's recent announcement regarding a sequel to the classic racing film "Days of Thunder," set to release in the summer of 2028. This news has sparked interest among many of the sport's top drivers, who are eager to see the film and express their desire for cameo appearances.
During The Chase media day this week, several NASCAR drivers were asked about their thoughts on the upcoming sequel and whether they would be interested in making an appearance. With a diverse range of personalities within NASCAR, each driver has unique ideas about how they could contribute to the film.
One notable driver, Carson Hocevar, who competes in the NASCAR Cup Series for Spire Motorsports, has even played a role in the development of the sequel. He shared with racing insider Steven Taranto that he has been providing input for the film since January. Hocevar had the opportunity to meet Cruise last Saturday at Daytona, where he learned that the actor is a fan of his racing style.
"Since January, I feel like I’ve been helping them work on that movie. They were telling me, ‘When he sees you, he’s going to recognize you. He loves you.’ I was like, ‘Oh, that’s super cool. That’s fun,’" Hocevar explained. He humorously mentioned that if given a cameo, he would like to "wreck" Cruise's character, Cole Trickle, a nod to the film's competitive spirit.
In addition to Hocevar, other prominent figures in NASCAR have expressed interest in joining the cast. Joey Logano, the 2024 Cup Series champion, and Kyle Larson, the 2025 champion, both indicated they would welcome the opportunity to appear in the sequel. Logano, who is a father of three biological children and two foster children, remarked on the potential "dad points" he would earn by being in the film.
"Yeah, are you kidding me? That’s like wicked cool dad points to be in ‘Days of Thunder,’" Logano said. "Hopefully that happens. I wouldn’t say no, that’s for sure. Absolutely I’d do it." Larson echoed this sentiment but humorously expressed his concerns about his acting abilities. "I’m not an actor, so I don’t want to make the film worse," he joked, while praising Cruise for being an exceptional celebrity.
Chase Briscoe, a driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, was also taken by surprise when Cruise made an unexpected appearance at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona. During a pre-race drivers meeting, Cruise walked in and engaged with the drivers for about 20-25 minutes, discussing his vision for the film and how he intends to portray them.
Briscoe, like many of his peers, is enthusiastic about the possibility of being included in the sequel. He expressed his hope that even if he doesn't have a speaking role, his No. 19 JGR Toyota could make an appearance. "I would love to be [in it]. I think they are going to use some of the drivers. Maybe our car will just be in it, but I would love to be in there," he said.
As the anticipation builds for the "Days of Thunder" sequel, it is clear that the NASCAR community is eager to be a part of this cinematic revival, showcasing the sport's thrilling essence and its talented drivers.
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