Sophie Cunningham's cheeky moment with Sydney Sweeney steals the spotlight at NASCAR

The weekend at NASCAR Cup Championship in Phoenix took an unexpected detour from the laps and checkered flags when Sophie Cunningham, guard for the Indiana Fever, and actress Sydney Sweeney struck a pose that quickly ignited social-media chatter.

Cunningham, who served as the event's honorary pace-car driver at the race held at Phoenix Raceway, shared the photo on X with the blunt caption: "One of us forgot our tits at home @sydney_sweeney," followed by a winking face sticking its tongue out.

For Cunningham, the photo op and cheeky caption follow a year of high-visibility moments.

The 29-year-old has built a robust online presence through candid commentary, playful jabs (including trolling teammate Caitlin Clark), and an engagement with fans across Instagram, TikTok, and X that now totals millions of followers.

Unexpected crossover moment in Arizona

While Cunningham was recovering from a season-ending knee injury she sustained earlier this year, the Indiana Fever guard clearly didn't miss the opportunity to make an impact off the hardwood.

Cunningham's involvement at Phoenix Raceway was no simple photo-op. Her role as honorary pace-car driver allowed her to lead the field during the warm-up laps ahead of the main event.

With her role at the NASCAR event and sharp social media timing, she broadened her footprint beyond the basketball court and deepened the celebrity-athlete crossover trending across sports culture.

Meanwhile, Sweeney, whose credit list includes the hit series Euphoria and the upcoming film Christy, arrived in racing-pulse style and brought Hollywood flair to Phoenix Raceway.

Sweeney, for her part, entered the Oval in full Hollywood mode: decked out in racing-inspired attire, she held the checkered flag and addressed attendees at the championship race.

Her appearance came just hours after a reported confrontation with her ex-fiancé.

Despite that evening's exchange, Sweeney presented a composed and confident front at one of motorsports' most significant weekends.

The NASCAR finale drew major attention as the season's culmination for the Cup Series, and Sweeney's appearance added a fresh celebrity dimension to the fan experience.

Phoenix Raceway is the one-mile, low-banked tri-oval in Avondale that has hosted the season-ending championship event since 2020.

On Sunday, the track once again served as the backdrop for the season's title-deciding contest.