Days of Thunder - Cast

Cast

  • Tom Cruise as Cole Trickle, a young race car driver out to make a name for himself in NASCAR. The character was patterned after the late Tim Richmond, while his name is a nod to veteran racer Dick Trickle.
  • Nicole Kidman as Dr. Claire Lewicki, a neurosurgeon who develops a relationship with Cole.
  • Robert Duvall as Harry Hogge, Cole's crew chief (patterned after Harry Hyde).
  • Michael Rooker as Rowdy Burns, the current Winston Cup Champion and Cole's first rival. He drives the #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 #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 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).
  • Don Simpson in a cameo as Aldo Bennedetti (patterned after Mario Andretti).

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