Trivia for
Days of Thunder (1990) More at IMDb Pro »

• Many real-life NASCAR drivers (including Rusty Wallace) appear in the film.
  
  
• NASCAR driver Greg Sacks did most of Tom Cruise's stunt driving. Cruise wanted to do his own stunt driving, but wasn't allowed to for insurance reasons. The Chevrolets were prepared by Rick Hendrick's racing team, which later used some of the movie cars in real races. 35 cars were wrecked during filming.
  
  
• Tom Cruise received a speeding ticket for doing 85 in a 55 mph zone while working on this movie.
  
  

• The scene where Tim approaches Harry on a tractor was filmed on NASCAR legend Junior Johnson's farm.
  
  
• The scene where Cole and Rowdy race rental cars on the beach shows birds scattering out of the way. The birds were lured onto the beach by birdseed, and in the first take most of them were run over.
  
  
• It was during the filming of this movie that Tom Cruise, then married to Mimi Rogers, fell in love with Nicole Kidman. They were married later the same year.
  
  
• During the Darlington race in which the two movie cars appeared in, Neil Bonnett, one of the drivers interviewed at Daytona before the race, was nearly killed in a serious accident. Ironically, Bonnett was killed in a practice crash at Daytona in 1994.
  
  
• In the beginning of the film, the announcer introduces driver Aldo Bennedetti from Reading, Pennsylvania. This character is most likely a reference to real-life driver Mario Andretti. Both are of Italian descent, Mario's brother is named Aldo, and Mario is from Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
  
  
• Robin Wright Penn was first suggested for the role of Claire Lewicki but was unavailable.
  
  
• Production began without a finished script; scenes were often written the day of filming. During one driving sequence, Tom Cruise actually had to read his lines off cue cards attached to his windshield, which resulted in a minor car accident. For subsequent driving sequences, Cruise was fitted with a special earpiece to have lines fed to him.
  
  
• Most of the cars used in this film were actually Chevrolets outfitted with special fiberglass bodies made to resemble stock cars. The vehicles routinely broke down from the strain of the racing or had their bodies greatly damaged. At one point, half the fleet was in the repair shop.
  
  
• Producer Don Simpson originally intended to take a supporting role as a fellow driver in this film but his role was reduced to only one line.
  
  
• City Chevrolet, a sponsor for Cole Trickle early in the movie, is a real-life Charlotte area dealership that is owned by Rick Hendrick, who prepared most of the cars in the movie.
  
  
• Tom Cruise and 'Robert Duvall (I)''s characters are (very) loosely based on former driver Tim Richmond and his crew chief Harry Hyde. Richmond was known as an overnight sensation, and Hyde was the veteran crew chief. The scene where Duvall's character teaches Cruise about tire management is based on an actual incident between Hyde and Richmond, who died of AIDS complications the year before the film was released.
  
  
• In an effort to give a more realistic atmosphere, professional racing broadcasters were brought in to play the broadcast reporters and track announcers. Key among these were members of ESPN's racing crew, including booth announcer Bob Jenkins and pit reporter Dr. Jerry Punch.
  
  
• After the first days of the editorial crew looking for "Tony", Director Tony Scott gave Apprentice Editor Tony Ciccone the nickname "TC" to avoid further confusion. He's still known by it.
  
  
• All cars used in the movie for the races had to pass inspection and qualify. Bobby Hamilton qualified one of the movie cars in the top ten; they removed the cameras and he was allowed to enter the race.
  
  
• The scene where Cole Trickle leaves the pits after a race to hit Russ Wheeler is also based on ,an actual event during the 1987 all-star race at Charlotte, NC between drivers Bill Elliott and Dale Earnhardt.
  
  
• Some footage for the movie was shot during the 1990 Daytona 500. Two additional cars, driven by Bobby Hamilton and Tommy Ellis, were added to the rear of the field for the express purpose of shooting them for this film. They were not officially scored and left the racetrack after 100 miles (40 laps) were completed. At one point in the race, leader Dale Earnhardt even lapped the movie cars.
  
  
• Cars designed specifically for the movie officially raced at Phoenix and Darlington, with Greg Sacks driving Cole Trickle's City Chevrolet in both races. Bobby Hamilton drove Rowdy Burns' Exxon car at Phoenix, while Hut Stricklin drove it at Darlington. None of the cars finished their races, but Hamilton did lead his race for five laps before an engine failure.
  
  
• According to an article in Car and Driver by Bob Zeller, Bobby Hamilton was paid $14,000-$15,000 by Rick Hendrick to drive the camera car. At the time Hamilton was making about $185 a week driving a wrecker (tow truck). He did so well that Hendrick hired him on for the next NASCAR race in Phoenix and the rest of the season.
  
  
• When Cole wins at Darlington, the track announcer says third place goes to Geoffrey Bodine. Tim Daland, Cole's car owner, is based on owner Rick Hendrick, whose first driver was Bodine.
  
  
• First feature film of Margo Martindale.
  
  
• Harold Faltermeyer turned down scoring duties on the film. FHe recommended fellow German composer Hans Zimmer to the producers. Zimmer was also recommended to director Tony Scott by his brother Ridley Scott and star Tom Cruise.
  
  

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