Cruise announced the sequel in an Aug. 29 social media post. The original 1990 film became a favorite among race fans and ranked among the top-grossing movies of that year.
NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell talked about the project Tuesday, Oct. 13, in a live podcast-style interview with Front Office Sports. He said the original showed what NASCAR was in the 1990s. The new one, he suggested, will show the sport today, with its technology and "everything that goes into the sport."
Cruise has a goal for the audience. "Tom's message to us was, 'I'm going to put you in front of an entirely new audience, and you need to be ready,'" O'Donnell said. So NASCAR is working on explaining itself. Does a newcomer understand the points system, how The Chase works, or how long the races run? O'Donnell called the film "a whole new open door" for bringing in new fans. NASCAR may also take the wrecked cars and leave them in places across the country and globe to build interest in the sport.
Cruise wants to race in a real event for the sake of authenticity. O'Donnell's answer so far is "I'm not sure that's going to happen."