Days of Thunder

A young hot-shot stock car driver gets his chance to compete at the top level.

• Director: Tony Scott
• Genre:Action / Drama / Romance / Sport
• Runtime:107 minutes

Cast

Tom Cruise : Cole Trickle
Robert Duvall : Harry Hogge
Nicole Kidman : Dr. Claire Lewicki
Randy Quaid : Tim Daland
Cary Elwes : Russ Wheeler

Days of Thunder revolved around a talented, hot-shot auto racing rookie, (#46 and 51) Cole Trickle (Cruise), who, after trying his hand in the American open wheel ranks, seeks to win on the NASCAR circuit. His mechanic mentor, Harry Hogge (Duvall), acts as his crew chief. He also develops a romantic relationship with Dr. Claire Lewicki (Nicole Kidman), a young brain surgeon who tries to tame him. Lo and behold, just when he thought it was safe and easy to get back into a race car and drive, an arrogant and dangerous newcomer by the name of Russ Wheeler (Cary Elwes) doesn’t make it easy on him, picking on him because he knows he can get away with it. Wheeler not only substitute-drove Trickle’s pink Superflo car while Cole was in the hospital, but now he is teammates with Cole under the selfish, bullheaded leadership of car owner Tim Daland (Randy Quaid). Cole slowly tolerates Russ’s arrogance until, after a race in which Russ cheats to win the race, Cole has his tires changed, and violently rams Wheeler from the side after the race, a response to their growing rivalry.

Meanwhile, Cole’s relationship with “Rowdy” Burns (Michael Rooker) goes on a completely different course. In their first encounter, Cole, using Rowdy’s car, impresses everyone by doing a test lap alone that was clocked as being “under Rowdy’s time.” This does not sit well with Rowdy, who “hazes” Cole during the rookie driver’s first few races. However, once Cole gets his confidence, and, under Harry’s mentorship, wins some races, he begins to haze Rowdy back, much to the anger of the veteran driver. During one particular race, both drivers are injured, which begins the bonding process the duo go through. When forced to attend dinner with other higher ups of NASCAR and with one another, Cole and Rowdy instead race one another in separate cars to the restaurant, venting their frustrations. From there, Cole and Rowdy begin to bond as close friends, with Cole and Claire going with Rowdy and his wife to their home and seeing their future property. Later, when Rowdy begins to show signs of a medical problem, it is Cole he finally opens up to. Cole, in turn, is the one who convinces him to see a doctor, and when Rowdy is diagnosed as unable to race, it is Cole he asks to race in his place. Read more

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