When it comes to NASCAR in popular culture, the first thing that comes to mind is Days of Thunder. The Tom Cruise starrer is regarded as a cult classic among fans and probably one of the best Hollywood depictions of NASCAR. However, in a recent podcast episode, former NASCAR driver Hut Stricklin shared some interesting tidbits. First and foremost, he revealed that he had helped train Tom Cruise for the role. Later on, Stricklin got an opportunity of a lifetime, thanks to Rick Hendrick.
Speaking with Dale Earnhardt Jr and Mike Davis in a recent episode of The Dale Jr. Download podcast, Stricklin recalled, “We ended up qualifying second round fastest there in that car. Then we got into [Ken] Schrader and somebody was in a #25 coming into the finish. He spun and hit me and took me out. We was in the race, just one of those things, so then I proceeded.
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“Rick Hendrick felt really bad so he brought one of the Days of Thunder movie cars over for us to use.
“We brought it over, it had no windows, no engine, no transmissions, no nothing. All the guys went to work and got it in there and we ended up starting the Daytona 500 in a Days of Thunder movie car.”
There was surprisingly no catch for Rick Hendrick
Of course, anybody would jump at the chance to drive such an iconic car. But then, there is usually some sort of catch or condition in place. To Stricklin’s delight, Hendrick let his team use the Days of Thunder car with no strings attached, that too at the Daytona 500. Admittedly, the number was different because he was racing for Tri-Star Motorsports in the #68 car.
He continued, “We had no restrictions, it was a handful. It was a movie car, everything was pieced together, just a thrash. I think Rick Hendrick would have done it whether Ken Schader was involved or not. Ken was coming to the finish line or something towards the end of the race. Got loose off of 4 in the #25 car.”
For the remainder of that 1990 campaign, Hut Stricklin managed two Top 10 finishes. Both of those came when he drove for Bobby Allison Motorsports.
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