Monogram's 1/24 Days of Thunder NASCAR Kits
Models and the Movies: Days of Thunder NASCAR Model Kits By Bill Engar
UPDATE: This is one of our most-viewed pages! I'd say there is plenty of interest out there for NASCAR modeling, or lots of fans of 1990's Days of Thunder! I've added some additional photos at the end of the article. Thanks for surfing with us!
In 1986, Hollywood hit-maker duo Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson produced the high-flying Top Gun movie. Critics were divided in their opinions, but the public loved the F-14’s in Top Gun, making it the most popular film of the year. Instead of producing an immediate sequel, the producers decided to use essentially the same plot, except instead of U.S. Navy fighter aircraft, the action would center around NASCAR racing. On June 27, 1990, Days of Thunder debuted for audiences starring Tom Cruise. His dramatic entrance on a motorcycle was--well, very similar to some scenes in Top Gun.
Tom Cruise’s Days of Thunder character needs no introduction. He’s pretty much the same frustrated, talented upstart as in Top Gun, overcoming obstacles put in his place by his father’s behavior. Randy Quaid plays Tim Daland, owner of a semi-fictional Chevrolet dealership (holding out for a management position paid off--Randy Quaid fans will understand this joke--hint: watch Christmas Vacation). Daland (Quaid) hires Harry Hogge (Robert Duvall) to build the City Chevrolet Chevy Lumina, the first racecar with which Tom Cruise would compete. It was actually based on Rick Hendrick’s Chevy dealership named City Chevrolet, so the movie car promoted the fictional Chevy dealership as well as Hendrick’s real one.
Tom Cruise’s Days of Thunder character needs no introduction. He’s pretty much the same frustrated, talented upstart as in Top Gun, overcoming obstacles put in his place by his father’s behavior. Randy Quaid plays Tim Daland, owner of a semi-fictional Chevrolet dealership (holding out for a management position paid off--Randy Quaid fans will understand this joke--hint: watch Christmas Vacation). Daland (Quaid) hires Harry Hogge (Robert Duvall) to build the City Chevrolet Chevy Lumina, the first racecar with which Tom Cruise would compete. It was actually based on Rick Hendrick’s Chevy dealership named City Chevrolet, so the movie car promoted the fictional Chevy dealership as well as Hendrick’s real one.