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Sydney Sweeney got race fans’ hearts racing Sunday before the green flag waved at the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway.
Sweeney took the stage with a checkered flag and reminded William Byron, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson and Chase Briscoe of what winning will mean to their legacy.
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Sydney Sweeney poses for a portrait at the 28th SCAD Savannah Film Festival on October 27, 2025 in Savannah, Georgia. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SCAD)
“Most days this checkered flag means victory, but today it means something more,” she 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 it takes to get to the Championship Four.
“So to our future champion, remember what this flag stands for. You’re not just another driver, you’re a NASCAR champion.”
SYDNEY SWEENEY FEELS LIKE A ‘CAGED ANIMAL’ IN HOLLYWOOD, BUT FINDS FREEDOM TO FLUNCHER HER CURVES
Sydney Sweeney arrives at the 2025 AFI FEST – “Christy” Premiere at the TCL Chinese Theater on October 25, 2025 in Hollywood, California. (Steve Granitz/FilmMagic)
Sweeney will play boxer Christy Martin in his new film. The film takes a look back at the legendary fighter’s career and her husband’s attempt to assassinate her in 2010. The film is set to be released later this week.
The actress wore a racing jacket, boots and shorts as she hit the racetrack in Avondale, Arizona.
She recently spoke about navigating the challenges that come with being a Hollywood movie star.
“I play a lot of very divisive characters, and I think a lot of people think they know me, but they don’t,” she told Variety. “So when people think, ‘Oh, she’s a sex symbol’ or ‘She’s into it,’ I’m like, ‘No, I’m just fine and I’m doing it for myself and I feel strong.’
Actress Sydney Sweeney gave a speech at a NASCAR race. (Getty Images)
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“And I hope that I can inspire other women to be confident and just flaunt what they have and feel comfortable because you don’t have to apologize or hide or cover up in any room.”
