Car Story the movie that killed the 80's

How One Movie Killed The 1980s

Patrick (H) Willems
495K subscribers
536,036 views Dec 17, 2023

 

I might be biased because I'm a NASCAR fan (and driver), but I love Days of Thunder. It's actually a pretty iconic film in American racing culture (not just NASCAR). I was 9 when it came out, and I was so hype for it. In 1990, NASCAR was still seen as a pretty "fringe" sport. So, it was exciting for NASCAR fans to get such a big spotlight on the series. When DoT came out, I had all the toy cars and everything else (I still have them)... and I remember watching NASCAR races with the cars from the film out there getting b-roll for the movie. I mean, it isn't a masterpiece, and I really don't think it tries to be. It's obviously Top Gun in Race Cars. But, before Days of Thunder, the best NASCAR movie (imo) was Stroker Ace,

which is awesome, but is kinda goofy and doesn't really portray stock car racing in a serious light. And, though Talladega Nights kind of refreshed NASCAR's presence in Hollywood in more recent years, Days of Thunder is still seen as a pretty important part of NASCAR racing culture... for better or worse. There are a LOT of one-liners from the movie that still get referenced in NASCAR broadcasts and among race crews like, "loose is fast," "rubbin' is racing," or "nothing stock about a stock car" - three phrases that resonate with people who are into stock car racing. Just a couple weeks ago, my car builder told me he's going to "shape [my car] like a bullet" xD