Sydney Sweeney brought more than star power to the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday — she brought a message of grit, glory, and unshakable resolve.
Taking the stage before the engines roared to life, the rising Hollywood star delivered an unexpectedly rousing pre-race speech, using the iconic checkered flag not just as a symbol of victory, but as a metaphor for transformation. “Most days, this checkered flag means victory, but today, it means something more,” Sweeney told the roaring crowd. “A dream realized, a life changed, a name that will never be forgotten.”
Her words were aimed directly at the Championship Four — William Byron, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, and Chase Briscoe — but the moment transcended sports. With commanding presence and poise, Sweeney invoked the themes of her upcoming film Christy, in which she portrays boxing legend Christy Martin, a pioneer in women’s sports whose triumphs in the ring were matched only by her battles outside it.
“‘Christy’ is about grit, about determination — the same spirit that it takes to make it to the Championship Four,” she said. The crowd, a mix of die-hard racing fans and pop culture followers, absorbed the moment — a Hollywood heavyweight honoring the raw, adrenaline-fueled heart of NASCAR.
Sydney Sweeney at Nascar is the image of the day: pic.twitter.com/aSzhrIYTq0
— AlphaFox (@Alphafox78) November 2, 2025
In Christy, set for release later this week, Sweeney steps into the gloves of one of boxing’s most iconic and complex figures. Christy Martin shattered barriers in the 1990s, rising to prominence in a male-dominated sport — but her story took a harrowing turn in 2010 when her then-husband and trainer brutally attacked her in an attempt to end her life. Martin survived, fought back, and ultimately brought her story to the world, earning a legacy not just as a champion, but as a survivor.
Sweeney’s portrayal of Martin marks a powerful shift in her career, and the actress seems fully aware of it. Donning a racing jacket, shorts, and boots as she arrived at the track, Sweeney looked every bit the modern warrior — confident, energized, and unapologetic.
In a recent interview with Variety, she addressed the pressures of public perception and the weight of being branded a “sex symbol.” Her response? Embrace strength, self-assurance, and authenticity. “I play a lot of very divisive characters,” she said. “And I think a lot of people think they know me, but they don’t… I feel strong. And I hope that I can inspire other women to be confident and just flaunt what they got and feel good.”
It’s a sentiment that matches the energy of both Christy and NASCAR: don’t back down, don’t blend in, and don’t apologize for who you are.
