Sophie Cunningham Sparks Debate With 'Gentlemen' Command Alongside Cole Swindell At NASCAR Race

Sophie Cunningham and Cole Swindell deliver NASCAR's traditional starting command together.© NDTV GALLERY

Sophie Cunningham joined country singer Cole Swindell to give the “start your engines” command before NASCAR's Cup Series championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, November 8. But it was Cunningham's opening word, “Gentlemen,” that stood out in the video shared by NASCAR. The Indiana Fever guard used the traditional form of the command, drawing praise from fans who preferred the classic wording. This was her third NASCAR appearance in 2026, adding another racing event to an offseason that has already taken her to several tracks and a Formula 1 race. Meanwhile, Kyle Larson secured his third Cup Series title, becoming a three-time champion.

Sophie Cunningham Uses Traditional NASCAR Command Alongside Cole Swindell

Cunningham stood beside Swindell near a blue promotional SUV as they addressed the crowd before the race. She began with “Gentlemen,” before giving the command.

NASCAR shared the clip with the caption, “You can feel the energy now!”

Fans had different things to say about her choice of words. One wrote, “Thanks for the “Gentleman” Sophie ”

Another commented, “It's Gentleman Start Your Engines not Drivers. Sophie got the command correctly.”

The phrase has a long history at the Indianapolis 500. Tony Hulman, the former Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner, regularly used “Gentlemen, start your engines.” In 1977, when Janet Guthrie became the first woman to qualify for the race, Hulman added an introduction acknowledging her achievement before using the traditional wording.

The command continued to evolve. In 1992, female driver Lyn St. James asked for the wording to be changed to “Drivers, start your engines,” but the request was not accepted. Tony George used that version at the Indianapolis 500 in 2017 and 2018, before returning to “Lady and Gentlemen” in 2019. Roger Penske used “Drivers” in 2020.

Another fan wrote, “Sophie may bring it back to the good ole days! She said the command correctly!”

Sophie Cunningham Adds Another NASCAR Appearance To Her Racing Offseason

Cunningham's visit to Homestead followed several trips to racing events. In February, she attended the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race in Atlanta as an Arby's brand ambassador. In September, she worked as a guest pit road reporter for USA Network at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis.

During that visit, she met Jeff Gordon, Michael Jordan and drivers including Carson Hocevar, Riley Herbst, Austin Dillon, Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney. Dillon told her, “We're huge fans. We love what you stand for.”

She also attended the Formula 1 race in Austin, Texas, in October, where she waved the checkered flag.

Cunningham has spoken warmly about the people she has met at the tracks. During her September appearance, she told USA Network, “You guys are salt of the earth people.” She added, “I feel like these are my people. I belong here.”

The 30-year-old guard has now completed her seventh WNBA season overall and her second full season with the Fever. She spent the first five years of her career with the Phoenix Mercury. Cunningham finished the 2026 season seventh in the league in three-point shooting accuracy, making 41.9% of her attempts.