Throughout his acting career, Tom Cruise has performed stunts that most Hollywood stars would happily leave to professionals. Now, the 64-year-old actor apparently wants to take that commitment a step further by competing in an actual stock car race.
According to NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell, Cruise has expressed interest in racing in the ARCA Menards Series as preparation for the upcoming sequel to Days of Thunder. That would put the actor on track alongside real competitors rather than stunt drivers following a carefully choreographed script.
The revelation came during an interview with Front Office Sports, where O’Donnell discussed NASCAR’s involvement in the new movie. Although he didn’t rule out the possibility, he admitted that Cruise’s proposed racing appearance might not happen.
With the sequel reportedly targeting a June 2028 release, Cruise appears determined to make his return to stock car racing as authentic as possible. Whether NASCAR will actually let him trade Hollywood stunt work for a competitive race remains to be seen.
Cruise Wants The Real Racing Experience
The ARCA Menards Series is a NASCAR-owned championship that serves as an important development platform for aspiring stock car drivers. It features a mixture of young prospects, experienced veterans, and independent competitors racing on tracks across the United States.
During the interview, O’Donnell admitted that Cruise’s request caught him off guard. “Tom wanted to go race in one of those,” he explained, before adding, “I’m not sure that’s going to happen.”
Despite the uncertainty, Cruise is hardly unfamiliar with powerful racing machinery. He previously tested a NASCAR stock car while preparing for the original Days of Thunder and drove a Red Bull Formula 1 car at Willow Springs in 2011.
Still, participating in a competitive ARCA event would present an entirely different challenge. Unlike a controlled test session, an actual race involves unpredictable traffic, close-quarter battles, and drivers fighting for championship points.
NASCAR Is Going All-In On The Sequel
NASCAR is taking an unusually hands-on approach to the production, with O’Donnell revealing that approximately 80 race cars are being prepared for the film. Some are expected to be damaged or destroyed during filming, suggesting that audiences can anticipate plenty of on-track action.
The organization also sees the sequel as an opportunity to introduce stock car racing to a new generation of fans. O’Donnell said Cruise wants the movie to reflect modern NASCAR, including its technology, competition format, and the realities of the sport today.
That approach could distinguish the sequel from the original 1990 film, which followed Cruise’s character, Cole Trickle, as he pursued success in NASCAR. The original became a cult favorite among racing enthusiasts, even if its portrayal of the sport favored Hollywood drama over realism.
Will Tom Cruise Actually Race?
Cruise’s potential ARCA appearance is just an idea at this point, not a confirmed entry. O’Donnell has not announced a race, team, or schedule for the actor, and there is no indication that NASCAR has approved him to compete.
The movie itself is still taking shape, with its storyline and racing sequences under development. However, NASCAR’s involvement and Cruise’s enthusiasm suggest that the production is aiming for an ambitious return to the world of stock car racing.
Considering Cruise’s history of performing his own stunts, his interest in racing professionally isn’t entirely surprising. Still, there’s a huge difference between driving a race car for a movie and lining up on a real starting grid, where nobody is following a script.