Sydney Sweeney made a surprise appearance at the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race this weekend, delivering an inspiring speech to the four contending drivers: William Byron, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, and Chase Briscoe.

In her speech, she highlighted the deeper meaning of the flag for this particular event.

“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.”

The sultry actress also mentioned her new role in the upcoming biopic, Christy.

“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 added.

“So, to our future champion, remember what this flag stands for. You’re not just another driver, you’re a NASCAR champion,” Sweeney concluded.

Sydney Sweeney is playing a warrior

Sweeney drew parallels between the high-stakes racing world and her upcoming role as boxer Christy Martin in the film Christy. The dramatic speech seems to indicate she’s still in character, espousing the heart of a champion.

She is generating significant Oscar buzz for her transformative performance as the pioneering female boxer in the film, which is set for release on November 7th.

The film, which chronicles Martin’s rise in the male-dominated world of boxing during the 1990s, has been testing exceptionally well with audiences.

TMZ describes Sweeney as potentially “punching her way to her first Academy Award.”

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Dropping jaws as usual

Dressed in a racing jacket, boots, and shorts, Sydney Sweeney embodied the energy of the NASCAR event. And she instilled confidence in the drivers.

She previously reflected on her own confidence in Hollywood in an interview with Variety, where she explained that she’s more than just a sex symbol.

“I play a lot of very divisive characters, and I think that a lot of people think they know me, but they don’t. 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 explained.

“And I hope that I can inspire other women to be confident and just flaunt what they got and feel good because you shouldn’t have to apologize or hide or cover up in any room.”

Sydney was feeling pretty good at a recent World Series game, cheering on her Los Angeles Dodgers.

The blonde bombshell shared Instagram photos from the event, including smoking hot pictures with her co-star in Anyone But You, Kaylee McGregor. The two were downing a pair of hot dogs.

As for the race, in a dramatic turnaround at the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race, Kyle Larson secured his second title.