NASCAR Hall of Famer Confirms Planning in Progress for Days of Thunder Sequel

What’s Happening?

NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon backed up recent talks in the garage area that a team of researchers and a Hollywood writer are working behind the scenes at races, preparing for a sequel to Days of Thunder during a recent interview.

With the release of Apple Studios’ hyper-realistic racing drama F1 last year, NASCAR fans and some industry members have clamored for a sequel to the 1990 NASCAR-themed drama Days of Thunder.

While it may not have been as praised as F1 at the time of its release, in recent years, the film has gained a cult-like following thanks to its gritty look at NASCAR in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Days of Thunder star Tom Cruise has not shied away from the sport since its release, becoming friends with four-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jeff Gordon and even teasing a return to the Days of Thunder universe in the future.

Earlier this season, Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal reported that writer Will Staples had “visited some team race shops near Charlotte, one of the people said.” That same week, Cup Series Champion Kyle Busch said he had spoken directly with a writer, though he did not say it was Staples.

While things have since quieted down, during a recent appearance as part of the Inside the New Sports Economy: Innovation, Partnerships, and Global Expansion session at the Milken Institute’s Global Conference, Jeff Gordon said that while he is “held to secrecy,” a team of researchers and a writer have met with teams.

“All I can say is that there have been a team at the track, taking notes, gathering information, meeting with drivers and teams, and a writer who’s working on something to move it into the future,” — Jeff Gordon

Is Jeff Talking Days of Thunder?

In response to this statement, some have pointed to the ongoing production of other NASCAR and stock car racing-themed TV Shows, suggesting that Gordon may not be talking about Days of Thunder.

Still, the question he was asked was rather direct, with host Jon Schwartz saying, “There have been discussions about a sequel for Days of Thunder. What, if anything, can you tell us?”

Furthermore, this is not the first time that the Vice Chairman of Hendrick Motorsports has commented on a question regarding early production work for a sequel.

Following the NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville in March, Gordon was asked a similar question during a press conference.

He responded that his friend Tom Cruise is “serious” about a sequel, then quipped, “When Tom Cruise says that, you take it seriously.”

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