Dale Earnhardt Jr. meets Tom Cruise at Daytona during film promotion
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 2, 2026, 10:24 AM
Last updated Sep 2, 2026
NASCAR arranged a meeting between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and actor Tom Cruise at the Daytona track. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was not originally scheduled to stay for the Cup Series weekend until league officials requested his presence for the interaction. The pair met at the NASCAR hangar on race morning, discussing the upcoming Days of Thunder sequel for approximately 20 minutes. Tom Cruise, who also addressed the drivers’ meeting, is reviving his character, Cole Trickle, for the new film project. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is providing consulting work on the production, including discussions with lead writer Will Staples regarding connections to the 1990 original. Production plans involve using camera-equipped stock cars on the track for filming sequences.
- •Dale Earnhardt Jr. met Tom Cruise at the Daytona NASCAR hangar on race morning.
- •NASCAR officials requested Dale Earnhardt Jr. extend his trip to facilitate the meeting.
- •Tom Cruise addressed the drivers’ meeting before the Coke Zero Sugar 400.
- •Dale Earnhardt Jr. is consulting on the Days of Thunder sequel alongside writer Will Staples.
- •The production expects to use professional drivers in camera-equipped cars for filming.
- 8:11 PMYahoo Sports — Dale Earnhardt Jr. Reveals His Surprising Connection to New ‘Days of Thunder’ Movie
- 10:24 AMYahoo Sports — Dale Earnhardt Jr. Reveals NASCAR Changed His Plans So Tom Cruise Could Meet Him at Daytona
"NASCAR convinced Dale Earnhardt Jr. to change his Daytona plans because Tom Cruise wanted to meet him. But Junior's connection to the new Days of Thunder movie actually began well before Cruise arrived.
"Dale Earnhardt Jr. revealed how NASCAR stepped in to arrange a meeting with Tom Cruise at Daytona.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsSep 2, 2026, 8:11 PMDale Earnhardt Jr. Reveals His Surprising Connection to New ‘Days of Thunder’ Movie
NASCAR convinced Dale Earnhardt Jr. to change his Daytona plans because Tom Cruise wanted to meet him. But Junior's connection to the new Days of Thunder movie actually began well before Cruise arrived.
- Yahoo SportsSep 2, 2026, 10:24 AMDale Earnhardt Jr. Reveals NASCAR Changed His Plans So Tom Cruise Could Meet Him at Daytona
Dale Earnhardt Jr. revealed how NASCAR stepped in to arrange a meeting with Tom Cruise at Daytona.
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