_Days of Thunder_ is a 1990 American sports drama film directed by Tony Scott and starring Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, Cary Elwes, and Michael Rooker. The film tells the story of Cole Trickle (Cruise), a young and talented stock car driver who is recruited to drive for a top NASCAR team. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $157 million worldwide against a production budget of $60 million.
A large portion of the film was filmed at Martinsville Speedway, a NASCAR track located in Martinsville, Virginia. The speedway was used for the racing scenes, as well as for some of the other scenes in the film.