"I didn’t even know who Tom Cruise was" - Rick Hendrick recalls unexpected friendship with Hollywood icon that inspired Days of Thunder

Legendary Cup Series owner Rick Hendrick was recently interviewed where he discussed a range of topics. One of them revolved around his friendship with actor Tom Cruise, star of "Days of Thunder," and how the movie came to be.

In an interview conducted by Scott Fowler of The Charlotte Observer, the 14-time Cup Series champion owner was asked about the origins of "Days of Thunder," a movie that NASCAR released in 1990. The 75-year-old recalls meeting Cruise with fellow acting star Paul Newman at Road Atlanta. The owner of Hendrick Motorsports added that Newman wanted to drive one of his cars in practice, and he obliged, adding:

"I didn’t even know who Tom Cruise was. And then Tom and I became friends, and that’s how “Days of Thunder” came about."

Hendrick said the idea of the movie stemmed from Cruise's love for driving, adding that the actor spent a few weeks with the NASCAR owner in the summertime, travelling to various tracks and running road courses. From there, NASCAR's most winningest owner recalls Cruise saying, "Let's make a movie," adding that the film was based on a blend of multiple real-life NASCAR drivers from the '90s.

"The story is about a car dealer in Charlotte that started with one car," Hendrick said. "Randy Quaid played my part. And then it was loosely about Tim Richmond and Dale Earnhardt. ... Robert Duvall played (crew chief) Harry Hyde. Robert was more like Harry than Harry was."

The film was shot at multiple real-life racetracks, including Charlotte Motor Speedway, Darlington Raceway, and Phoenix Raceway. The 108-minute sports drama movie did big business in the United States, grossing over $157 million.

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Rick Hendrick was among four NC business owners to donate to Hurricane Helene relief

Rick Hendrick was in the news recently for a good cause. His company, Hendrick Automotive, along with Sonic Automotive and Speedway Motorsports joined together to donate to Samaritan's Purse in an effort to help the victims of Hurricane Helene -- a devastating natural disaster that ripped through southeastern United States. Hendrick's company donated $2 million in relief.

Hendrick, along with Sonic Automotive CEO David B. Smith and Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith, put out a statement, saying:

"Together with @HendrickCars, @SonicAutomotive, and @CLTMotorSpdwy, we are pledging a combined $2 million to Samaritan's Purse in support of Hurricane Helene relief efforts."

The statement said they represent over 22,000 team members across the United States, including those in the Carolinas, who were hit hard by the fierce storm. They added that they feel a moral obligation to help those in need during the trying times, saying:

"Our companies share a commitment to community involvement and deep roots in western North Carolina and the Southeast region."

Hurricane Helene tragically caused over 200 fatalities and over $30 billion in damages. Many race teams and tracks have stepped up to help those in need, including 23XI Racing, who made a $1 million relief donation.