Sydney Sweeney brought Hollywood flair to the NASCAR Cup Series Championship on Sunday, firing up fans at Phoenix Raceway before the engines roared to life.
The Euphoria star took the stage holding a checkered flag and delivered a motivational message to the four championship contenders — William Byron, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, and Chase Briscoe. “Most days, this checkered flag means victory, but today, it means something more,” Sweeney said. “A dream realized, a life changed, a name that will never be forgotten. In my new film Christy, I play a warrior. A fighter who refused to quit. Christy is about grit, about determination – the same spirit that it takes to make it to the Championship Four.”
She told the crowd, “To our future champion, remember what this flag stands for. You’re not just another driver, you’re a NASCAR champion.”
Sweeney portrays boxing legend Christy Martin in Christy, which chronicles the fighter’s rise in the ring and her survival after her husband’s 2010 attempt to kill her. The film premieres later this week.
The actress turned heads arriving at the Avondale, Arizona track in a racing jacket, boots, and shorts — a nod to her new role and the sport’s energy.
Speaking recently with Variety, Sweeney reflected on fame and the labels attached to her public image. “I play a lot of very divisive characters, and I think a lot of people think they know me, but they don’t,” she said. “So when people think, ‘Ah, she’s a sex symbol,’ or ‘She’s leaning into that,’ I’m like, ‘No, I just feel good, and I’m doing it for myself and I feel strong.’”
Sweeney added that she hopes her confidence inspires other women to embrace themselves fully. “You shouldn’t have to apologize or hide or cover up in any room,” she said. “Just flaunt what you’ve got and feel good.”