Ryan Preece clinched his first NASCAR Cup Series victory on Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway, navigating a chaotic final lap that saw multiple cars involved in wrecks. The win comes as the playoff field is set for the remainder of the season.
The race concluded under caution after a multi-car incident on the backstretch. NASCAR officials made the decision to throw the caution flag, initially waiting through a first wreck before intervening as more cars became involved, ultimately stopping the race.
Earlier in the weekend, actor Tom Cruise was in attendance at Daytona, arriving with significant security. Cruise attended the driver's meeting and was seen near a tribute to the late Kyle Busch. His presence fueled speculation and discussion, particularly in light of news that a sequel to the 1990 film "Days of Thunder" is reportedly in development.
Actor Randy Quaid, who starred in the original "Days of Thunder," publicly voiced his strong disapproval of the reported casting for the sequel. Quaid criticized the casting of Anne Hathaway, calling her a "leftist, woke, horrible choice" and advocating for Nicole Kidman's return to the film. He expressed his views via social media, stating that the casting would not resonate with a "MAGA" audience and that Hathaway was not a suitable replacement.
"Days of Thunder" is a 1990 film about stock car racing, starring Tom Cruise as Cole Trickle. The reported sequel is slated for a 2028 release.
On the track, Preece's victory was hard-fought, coming after a season where he entered the race below the playoff cutline. His win at Daytona secures his spot in the postseason, which begins next week at Darlington Raceway. The race also saw incidents involving drivers such as Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson, with Blaney expressing frustration over contact that led to his car being damaged. Reports indicate that the wreck involving Blaney was initiated by an incident involving Dillon, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Daniel Dye.
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