Sophie Cunningham takes NASCAR spotlight during WNBA break
NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 13, 2026
Cunningham at Raceway
Sophie Cunningham spent part of the WNBA break at World Wide Technology Raceway, and the stop put her in the middle of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race in Madison, Illinois. Cunningham met fans, appeared on the track during the event and took in a Cup Series race in her home state while reaching a large NASCAR audience. She also spent time in the NASCAR garage and on pit road, giving her a closer look at the race-day atmosphere. For Cunningham, the day tied together fan engagement, track access and her passion for racing.
Cunningham and NASCAR
Cunningham used the visit to connect with people around the sport. She met Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Jeff Gordon and Michael Jordan during the race-day appearance. She also praised the drivers and other guests she spent time with at the event. Cunningham said the day was “the best day in my entire life,” a line that captured her enthusiasm for the raceway. She also called the NASCAR crowd “my people,” a description that reflected her excitement about the visit. The appearance highlighted Cunningham’s fandom for racing and included both fan-facing moments and time around the garage and pit road.
Cunningham on Broadcast
Cunningham’s day at the raceway also carried a media angle. She spoke during the USA Sports pregame show and was set to contribute to USA Network’s broadcast of the race, giving her a role beyond the trackside appearance. Cunningham’s presence on television added another layer to a day that blended fan access, track time and race-day energy. During a pre-race event, Cunningham tried to kick a football from a stage into the crowd, but the ball hit a microphone stand instead. The miss fit the fan-friendly tone of her appearance. By the end of it, Cunningham had spent time with drivers, fans and other guests, walked pit road and the garage, appeared on the track and prepared to contribute to the race broadcast. The appearance connected her WNBA break with her interest in NASCAR and gave her a chance to reach a large audience.
