A sequel to Days of Thunder, titled Days of Thunder 2, has reportedly entered early development. Tom Cruise is expected to return as Cole Trickle in the movie that has a target release window of 2026. While details remain vague, industry chatter has also hinted at possible involvement from NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon.

Fueling that speculation, Hendrick Motorsports recently published a set of 23 behind-the-scenes images on its website, offering a glimpse of Cruise during filming. The photographs were of the Hollywood superstar seated in a race car and posing between takes.

The photos have intensified interest. The hype is also fueled by Cruise’s connection to racing extends beyond the silver screen.

Long before portraying a stock car driver in Hollywood, Cruise had some firsthand experience in competitive motorsports. In 1987, he stepped into professional racing by competing in the IMSA Firestone Firehawk Grand Sports endurance race. He also took part in several SCCA events in the 1980s.

That IMSA debut placed him in the deep end, though. The three-hour endurance race at Road Atlanta demanded extreme patience from Cruise, who was sharing the car with Rick Hendrick. His true test of patience came when he encountered a refueling issue that disrupted his run.

The issue ultimately dropped his team to a 14th-place finish in the endurance race at Road Atlanta. Cruise completed 97 laps around the 2.52-mile road course and came away with a clearer understanding of what drivers go through each weekend.

“It was a lot of fun. I got a lot of seat time, and it was fun racing with those guys. The first three laps were like a demolition derby. Guys were bouncing off each other. After that, it settled down, and we had some good racing,” said Cruise, reflecting on the experience.

Cruise had started the Nissan 300 ZX Turbo from 15th on the grid and handled the opening 80 minutes of the three-hour race. He steadily climbed into P9 place before pitting on lap 50. That pit stop, however, proved costly.

A fueling problem stretched the visit to two minutes. They ended falling behind by two laps, undoing the progress. When Hendrick rejoined the race, the team found itself in 19th place, forced to salvage what it could over the remaining distance.

The event also marked Hendrick’s professional racing debut in the street-stock category. That race was won by John Heinricy of Holly, Michigan, and Stuart Hayner of Yorba Linda, California. Cruise and Hendrick focused on finishing the endurance challenge and gaining experience.

Now 63, Cruise appears ready to strap in once more, not to chase trophies, but to return to racing on the silver screen. Reports suggest Days of Thunder 2 will frame him as a mentor confronting modern technology and younger rivals, with themes centered on legacy, redemption, and NASCAR competition.

Speculation has also swirled around Margot Robbie potentially joining the cast as a rising star, alongside possible cameos from the original film’s ensemble.

Note: The Penske Entertainment editorial staff is looking back at the 10 biggest moments of 2025 in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in this year-end series, with one installment appearing on the site per day in countdown fashion from Dec. 22-31.

Doug Boles was once an NTT INDYCAR SERIES competitor, a founding partner of Panther Racing, which won season championships in 2001 and 2002 with Sam Hornish Jr. at the wheel. This year, the longtime Indianapolis Motor Speedway president was named to the same position at INDYCAR, replacing Jay Frye.

Boles has decades of motorsports experience. He became IMS president in 2013, overseeing the sellout of the 100th Indianapolis 500 in 2016, the first full-capacity crowd in the event’s stories history. He managed more than $150 million in strategic investment at the Racing Capital of the World, including “Project 100” and significant infrastructure improvements following the acquisition of IMS by Penske Corporation.

Across his tenure at IMS, Boles has been lauded for his promotional prowess and strategic marketing capabilities, growing the Speedway’s global reach and better connecting Indy 500 fans to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

Boles worked extensively within the INDYCAR paddock during his roles as Panther Racing’s chief operating officer and Hulman & Company’s vice president of communications. At Panther, he helped lead the Chevrolet-powered organization to 15 INDYCAR SERIES race wins and the two INDYCAR SERIES championships, in addition to seven INDY NXT by Firestone race wins and a championship won by Mark Taylor in 2003.

In total, Boles brought more than 20 years of executive leadership experience in motorsports, within team operations, sponsorship, marketing, public relations and more to INDYCAR.

Penske Entertainment President and CEO Mark Miles called Boles “the ideal choice” as the series moved into a new era of opportunity and visibility.

“(He) is appreciated by our fans and respected by our owners, drivers, partners and additional key stakeholders,” Miles said.

Frye served 10 years as president. During his tenure, he led a period of tremendous successes at INDYCAR, including securing the entitlement series sponsorships with Verizon and NTT, the development of the AK18 universal aero kit, development and implementation of the total driver cockpit safety solution aeroscreen and state-of-the-art hybrid technology introduction.

Frye also oversaw an expanded grid with incredible competition. The longtime motorsports executive is now president of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

The Olympic Flame doesn’t just travel through city squares and historic landmarks—it also stops where real-world craftsmanship happens. On December 27, the flame made a meaningful visit to the Pomigliano d’Arco Assembly Plant, one of Italy’s most important automotive manufacturing sites and the home of the Alfa Romeo Tonale compact SUV.

For Alfa Romeo, the moment was more than ceremonial. It was a powerful blend of sport, industry, and national pride as the flame’s journey toward the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics passed directly through one of the brand’s most modern production hubs.

A Factory With Deep Roots –

Pomigliano d’Arco isn’t just another assembly plant—it’s a symbol of Italian manufacturing excellence. Alongside other key Stellantis facilities in Melfi, Modena, and Turin, Pomigliano represents the backbone of Italy’s automotive industry. Today, it plays a crucial role in Alfa Romeo’s future by producing the Tonale, a vehicle designed to bridge classic Alfa performance with modern electrification.

That made the plant a fitting stop as the Olympic Flame continues its long relay across Italy. After beginning its journey in Rome on December 6, the flame will pass through more than 300 towns and cities before reaching Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo for the opening ceremonies in 2026.

Alfa Romeo’s Role in the Olympic Journey –

As an Official Partner of the Olympic Flame relay, Alfa Romeo is supporting the convoy with a fleet that includes the Stelvio, Tonale, and Junior. These vehicles aren’t just transportation—they’re rolling ambassadors for Italian design, performance, and technology.

Alfa Romeo has also tied the partnership directly to its product lineup, previewing special Milan Cortina 2026-themed editions of the Junior and Tonale. These models feature exclusive styling touches inside and out, along with sport-focused upgrades that reinforce the brand’s performance-first identity while celebrating the Olympic spirit.

Employees Take Center Stage –

One of the most impactful parts of the event had nothing to do with sheet metal or horsepower. Alfa Romeo employees and their families were invited to take part in the celebration, turning a normal production day into a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

A selected group of workers physically carried the Olympic Flame through the plant itself, weaving between production areas while coworkers looked on. It was a rare and emotional moment that connected everyday manufacturing jobs with one of the world’s most recognizable symbols.

Adding to the significance was the presence of Stefania Belmondo, one of Italy’s most decorated Winter Olympians. With ten Olympic medals and a legendary career in cross-country skiing, Belmondo opened and closed the event, sharing personal reflections about representing Olympic values on the world stage.

Bigger Than One Brand –

The Pomigliano stop also highlighted Stellantis’ broader role in the Games. As an Automotive Premium Partner, Stellantis brands—including Alfa Romeo, FIAT, Lancia, and Maserati—will provide approximately 3,000 vehicles to support athletes, staff, volunteers, and officials during the Games. More than half of that fleet will be electrified, underscoring the group’s push toward a more sustainable future.

For Alfa Romeo, the Olympic Flame’s visit wasn’t just about the Games—it was about celebrating people, passion, and the pride that comes from building vehicles with history and purpose.

What’s Happening?

For any driver, finding victory lane is the pinnacle of their career. However, not every driver is lucky enough to find victory lane during their career. In 2026, rookies, veterans, and everyone in between will fight across 36 races in hopes of finding victory lane for the first time.

• This list will be limited to full-time Cup Series drivers. Drivers competing part-time are not eligible, but adjustments can be made in the event of a driver swap.
• This list will start with the driver with the fewest number of career starts in the NASCAR Cup Series and end with the driver with the most. These streaks can span all the way from single digits to triple digits.
• Last season, Josh Berry removed his name from this list, winning at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in his 52nd career NASCAR Cup Series start.

3 Starts – Connor Zilisch – No. 88 – Trackhouse Racing

Zilisch enters the 2026 season with just three starts under his belt, none at short tracks and none at super speedways. While he adjusted to the Xfinity Series rather quickly, this Cup Series will likely come as a sharper learning curve for the 19-year-old.

44 Starts – Riley Herbst – No. 35 – 23XI Racing

Despite showing promise in sporadic starts leading up to the 2025 season, Riley Herbst had one of the toughest rookie seasons in recent NASCAR history. While the pressure will be on in 2026, Herbst has overcome a similar situation before, coming quite a ways from his rookie season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2020.

81 Starts – Carson Hocevar – No. 77 – Spire Motorsports

After his impressive rookie campaign in 2024, Hocevar improved yet again in 2025, scoring better counting stats, his first career pole, and a much-improved average starting spot. The No. 77 came close twice in 2025, and it is only a matter of time before the stars align for Hocevar and Spire.

81 Starts – Zane Smith – No. 38 – Front Row Motorsports

Zane Smith made his return to Front Row Motorsports this past season, and, despite all-around struggles from the team, the No. 38 seemed like FRM’s most consistent option from start to finish. Smith still has a way to go until he is a real threat week in and week out, but once he finds his groove in the Cup Series, a win will likely follow soon after.

111 Starts – Noah Gragson – No. 4 – Front Row Motorsports

Noah Gragson is entering his first NASCAR Cup Series season, in which he will return to the team he raced with the year prior. The 2025 season was very challenging for Gragson, but maybe some consistency will pay off and help the fan favorite driver score his first win in 2026.

113 Starts – John Hunter Nemechek – No. 42 – Legacy Motor Club

John Hunter Nemechek may not have won his first race in 2025, but his year-to-year improvement cannot be overlooked. Entering 2026, he and his Legacy Motor Club teammate Erik Jones have a knack for racing at Darlington, and maybe Nemechek can turn his 2025 Southern 500 run into a win this season.

123 Starts – Ty Gibbs – No. 54 – Joe Gibbs Racing

It never felt like the No. 54 team found its footing during the 2025 season. Following a crew chief change and a difficult end to 2024, Gibbs and company found themselves starting where the team left off in 2024, and though he came close to winning at Bristol, the odds did not fall in his favor, keeping his winless streak alive for yet another season.

142 Starts – Cody Ware – No. 51 – Rick Ware Racing

Much like his family’s team, Cody Ware has yet to find a way to win after many years racing in NASCAR’s highest level. Though he may not impress every week, that No. 51 is often at the front of the field during superspeedway races, and if his timing is right, that could pay off in the long run.

144 Starts – Todd Gilliland – No. 34 – Front Row Motorsports

Todd Gilliland took on the role of veteran for Front Row Motorsports in 2025, but failed to build on the gains he made during the 2024 season. As always, FRM had fast cars on superspeedways in 2025, and this will likely carry into the 2026 season, with Gilliand’s knack for racing on drafting tracks, which could be his most likely route to his first win.

223 Starts – Ryan Preece – No. 60 – RFK Racing

After a solid first season at RFK Racing, the vibe around Ryan Preece has shifted from ‘will he match expectations’ to ‘when will he finally win?’ The short track ace will have many opportunities to do so during his second year with the team, and his countdown to victory lane seems to be slowly coming to an end.

281 Starts – Ty Dillon – No. 10 – Kaulig Racing

Ty Dillon has had one of the toughest careers in the NASCAR Cup Series, and despite outperforming his equipment at times and frequent team changes, Dillon remained winless in his first year with Kaulig Racing. The second-generation racer has a hunger to win and hasn’t given up yet, and maybe 2026 will be his season to break this streak.

This list will be updated as the season goes on and drivers get their first wins.

The engineering field remains largely male-dominated, and Jayhawk Motorsports reflects that reality. The student-run racing team has a strong male presence, but a small group of women are working to change that.

Though few in number, they continue to assert their place within the team, challenging stereotypes and helping redefine what it means to be an engineer in motorsports.

The Jayhawk Motorsports team has established itself as a top-performing team in Formula SAE competitions, where college students design and race small cars. Founded in 1994, the group has grown significantly larger than the six University of Kansas mechanical engineers who started it.

Today, JMS has expanded its efforts to build a combustion-powered race car. The team now features more than 40 students from a diverse range of disciplines, including business, industrial design, and computer science, as well as mechanical, chemical, and electrical engineering. These students compete on a high level, turning theory into practice and refining their abilities in design, teamwork, and project management.

The women in this group are no exception to that, holding each other accountable and making sure that the gender roles that are traditionally placed on them are challenged and not just accepted.

Katie Kraiss is one example of this, as she holds the role of business lead at JMS. She has always had an interest in cars as her dad and grandpa had a love for them and passed that along to her. Kraiss said that people often seem surprised that she knows so much about cars and is interested in them because, to her, it’s just something she grew up with.

“Working with 90% of the team being male engineers as a female business student, I’ll just always be slightly intimidated by them I will say,” Kraiss said.

Hailey Bollini, volunteer lead managing the non-senior side of things, said she also feels underestimated in the club. Bollini said she has had several instances where she was more knowledgeable on a topic than some of her male counterparts but was overlooked because of her gender.

“You kinda have to make yourself bigger and scarier, and then people kinda take you seriously, so, kinda that emotional labor that goes along with all that and putting on a persona,” Bollini said.

Despite the challenges, the women of Jayhawk Motorsports continue to push forward, working on engines, managing budgets, and leading projects alongside their male teammates. Their efforts are not only helping the team succeed on the track, but also paving the way for future women in engineering and business.

As Jayhawk Motorsports approaches its next competition, the women on the team remain committed to proving their place in engineering and to challenging the barriers that still exist within the field.

The 48th edition of the Dakar Rally (January 3–17, 2026) marks the seventh consecutive year in Saudi Arabia, kicking off the 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) season.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Organized by ASO, this year’s event promises to be one of the toughest in recent history, with a reworked route emphasizing raw endurance over gimmicks. The rally starts and finishes in the Red Sea coastal city of Yanbu, featuring a massive loop through central Saudi Arabia’s diverse deserts, rocky tracks, and dunes—without venturing into the vast Empty Quarter this time.

Route and Schedule Overview

The total distance is approximately 8,000 km (7,994 km for cars), including nearly 5,000 km (4,880 km) of timed special stages—one of the highest competitive kilometer counts in the Saudi era. The format includes a short prologue, 13 full stages, and a single rest day in Riyadh on January 10.

Key highlights:

– Prologue (Jan 3): Yanbu loop (98 km total, 23 km special) – Sets starting order.
– Week 1: Focuses on northern regions with fast tracks and building intensity, leading to a long liaison to Riyadh.
– Marathon Stages: Two pairs (Stages 4–5: Al Ula to Hail; Stages 9–10: Wadi Ad Dawasir to Bisha) – Competitors get limited “refuge” bivouacs with no external assistance, forcing self-reliance for repairs.
– Week 2: Heavy on dunes around Wadi Ad Dawasir and navigation challenges en route back to Yanbu.
– New addition: Mid-stage service points on select rocky sections for tire changes and minor fixes, aiding survival without diluting the challenge.

Dakar director David Castera emphasized balance and fatigue: “We have almost 5,000 kilometers of timed stages… It’s been a long time since we’ve had that many kilometers.”

Key Changes from 2025

– Scrapped the controversial 48-hour chrono stage (blamed for crashes and strategic gaming).
– Revived classic two-day marathons (twice) for authentic self-sufficiency.
– Reduced bivouacs for fresher support teams when available.
– No Empty Quarter, shifting focus to varied sand types, rocks, and canyons.

Main Categories and Top Contenders

Over 325 vehicles are entered across bikes, cars, trucks, SSVs, and more.

– Bikes: Defending champion Daniel Sanders (Red Bull KTM) aims to repeat his wire-to-wire 2025 dominance. Challengers include Honda’s Ricky Brabec (two-time winner), Adrien Van Beveren, Tosha Scharein; Hero’s Ross Branch and José Ignacio Cornejo.

– Cars (Ultimate): Reigning champ Yazeed Al-Rajhi defends in Toyota. Heavyweights: Carlos Sainz (Ford), Nasser Al-Attiyah and Sébastien Loeb (Dacia Sandriders), Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Henk Lategan/Seth Quintero.
– Notable debuts: Defender enters the new Stock category with the D7X-R, driven by 14-time winner Stéphane Peterhansel.

The 2026 Dakar strips away experiments, returning to core endurance roots. With massive timed mileage, dual marathons, and Saudi’s unforgiving terrain, expect attrition to separate survivors from winners. The action starts in Yanbu—get ready for two weeks of relentless adventure.