Tom Cruise plays race driver Cole Trickle, whose talent and ambition are surpassed only by his burning need to win. Discovered by businessman Tim Daland (Randy Quaid), Cole is teamed with legendary crew chief and car-builder Harry Hogge (Academy Award® winner Rovert Duvall) to race for the Windston Cup at the Daytona 500. After a fiery crash nearly ends Cole's career, he turns to a beatufiul doctor (Nicole Kidman) to regain his nerve and the true courage needed to race, to win, and to live.