Cole Trickle (Tom Cruise) is a young hotshot with little stock car driving experience and a lot of raw talent. His natural ability to make all the right moves on the race track wins him a car to drive and eventually the support of grizzled crew chief Harry Hogge (Robert Duvall), a NASCAR legend who sees Cole’s potential to become a great driver. Along the way, Cole romances a beautiful doctor (Nicole Kidman), whom he meets after a near fatal accident. Hogge’s mentoring and the potential tragedy leads Cole through the dramatic process of self-discovery that ultimately makes him a better driver.

This movie along with live television and popular drivers propelled NASCAR into one of the most watched sports in America.