Days of Thunder

**Days of Thunder** is a UK VHS release by CIC Video and Paramount on 26th August 1991, 3rd August 1992, It got re-released by CIC, Paramount, PolyGram Video and Karussell on 10th October 1994, It got re-released by Paramount on 3rd July 2000 and is a UK DVD release by Paramount on 31st July 2000.

The film also got aired on Sky Action in 10th July 2022 and the film also got aired on Sky Greats in 16th July 2022 and 3rd August 2022.

## Cast

* Tom Cruise as Cole Trickle, a young race car driver out to make a name for himself in NASCAR. He drives the No. 46 City Chevrolet, the SuperFlo Chevrolet and later the No. 51 Mello Yello Chevrolet. The character was patterned after Tim Richmond, while his name is a nod to veteran racer Dick Trickle.
* Robert Duvall as Harry Hogge, Cole's crew chief (patterned after Harry Hyde).
* Nicole Kidman as Dr. Claire Lewicki, a neurosurgeon who develops a relationship with Cole.
* Michael Rooker as Rowdy Burns, the current Winston Cup Champion and Cole's first rival and friend. He drives the No. 51 Exxon Chevrolet (patterned after Dale Earnhardt).
* Cary Elwes as Russ Wheeler, a rookie driver who fills in for Cole, but later on becomes his teammate and bitter rival. He drives the No. 18 Hardee's Chevrolet (patterned after Rusty Wallace).
* Randy Quaid as Tim Daland, a wealthy car dealership and race team owner who first recruits Cole into NASCAR (patterned after Rick Hendrick).
* Fred Dalton Thompson as Big John, president of NASCAR (patterned after "Big Bill" France).
* John C. Reilly as Buck Bretherton, Cole's car chief. Reilly also starred in *Talladega Nights*.
* J. C. Quinn as Waddell, Rowdy's crew chief. The name is likely a reference to Waddell Wilson.
* Caroline Williams as Jeannie Burns, Rowdy's wife.
* Leilani Sarelle as a Female Highway Patrol Officer who is actually a stripper hired by Harry as a prank on Cole.
* Chris Ellis as Harlem Hoogerhyde, Cole's gas man (patterned after Danny "Chocolate" Myers).
* Margo Martindale in her first acting role as Harry's timekeeper.
* Don Simpson in a cameo as Aldo Bennedetti (patterned after Mario Andretti and using his twin brother Aldo Andretti's first name). He drives the No. 34 Goody's Powder Chevrolet.

Richard Petty, Rusty Wallace, Neil Bonnett, Harry Gant, and Dr. Jerry Punch all appear in cameo roles as themselves. Bob Jenkins had a voice-over role as public address announcer.

## Opening (Original 1992 release)

* CIC Video Warning Screen
* CIC Video/Paramount
* Top Gun trailer [announced by Willie Rushton]
* Days of Thunder title card with BBFC 15 card (1985-1997)
* Paramount Pictures Ident (1986-2002) (silent)
* Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer films Ident
* Start of Days of Thunder (1990)

## Opening (1994 Re-Release)

1. CIC Video Warning Screen (1991-1996)
2. The Paramount Pictures Big Screen, Best Sellers trailer from 1993 with clips of "Top Gun", "Grease", "Ghost", "The Godfather Part I, Part II and Part III", "Apocalypse Now", "Fatal Attraction", "Raiders of the Lost Ark", "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom", "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", "An Officer and a Gentleman", "The Untouchables" and "Zulu".
3. Indecent Proposal Trailer
4. Sliver Trailer [announced by Ringo Starr]
5. Alive Trailer
6. Presented In Dolby Surround Ident (Short Version)
7. BBFC 15 Card (1985-1997)
8. Paramount Pictures Ident (1986-2002) (Silent)
9. Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer films Ident
10. Start of Days of Thunder (1990)

## Trailers and info

### 1994 Re-release

1. The Paramount Pictures Big Screen, Best Sellers trailer from 1993 with clips of "Top Gun", "Grease", "Ghost", "The Godfather Part I, Part II and Part III", "Apocalypse Now", "Fatal Attraction", "Raiders of the Lost Ark", "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom", "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", "An Officer and a Gentleman", "The Untouchables" and "Zulu".
2. Indecent Proposal
3. Sliver
4. Alive

**1991 Rental Re-Release**

1. Let It Ride
2. Mo' Better Blues
3. Crazy People
4. In the Best Interest of the Child