Jeff Gordon raises eyebrows with comments about 'Days of Thunder' sequel after Daytona 500

Jeff Gordon is ready for Hollywood to make a sequel to the hit racing film Days of Thunder. After the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Gordon, the vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, revealed that he discussed the idea with Days of Thunder star Tom Cruise.

“I’ve absolutely talked to Tom about (a sequel) because I want him to do the project, and we want to be a part of it if it were to happen,” Gordon said, per Dustin Long of NBC Sports.

Amid rumors that Tom Cruise is interested in making a Days of Thunder 2, Jeff Gordon was just asked if he's spoken with Cruise about such a project since they're quite friendly.

Gordon says he has, because he wants Cruise to do it and would like Hendrick Motorsports to be a…

— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) February 17, 2025

“(Cruise) seems to like to tease it, so I don’t know. We’ll see what happens. If that doesn’t happen, I feel pretty confident there’s a project out there that will get NASCAR back on the big screen, if not just a really cool docuseries or something beyond even what we’re already seeing right now.”

In November, The Hollywood Reporter said Cruise was talking to Paramount about a Days of Thunder sequel. It comes after the 62-year-old starred in the 2022 film Top Gun: Maverick, the sequel to the 1986 hit movie Top Gun.

‘Days of Thunder’ sequel is in the works

“He’s talking [to Paramount] about Top Gun and Days of Thunder,” a studio insider told The Hollywood Reporter at the time. “It’s going to be what comes together first in terms of a script. It depends on the idea and, ultimately, the script.”

Days of Thunder was released in theatres on June 27, 1990, and grossed $157.9 million at the box office worldwide. The film focuses on Cole Trickle (Cruise), a young NASCAR driver looking to make a name for himself in the sport. Days of Thunder also includes Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, Cary Elwes, John C. Reilly, Michael Rooker and Nicole Kidman. There also cameo appearances from NASCAR drivers Richard Petty, Rusty Wallace, Neil Bonnett and Harry Grant.

Jeff Gordon also talked about the possibility of a NASCAR-themed project even if a Days of Thunder sequel doesn’t happen. “I am seeing just a lot more momentum in projects like coming through NASCAR and coming to Hendrick Motorsports and just more interest,” Gordon said. “So that’s good, right? It talks a lot about where the sport is at, where it’s heading, the amazing crowd that was here all weekend, not just (Sunday), new TV partners.”