Dominick Cruz to Drive NASCAR Pace Car

UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz will serve as honorary pace car driver at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, the Subway Fresh Fit 500, at Phoenix International Raceway on March 4.

“Dominick is a true Arizona success story and we are proud of the style and class with which he represents our entire region,” said track president Bryan R. Sperber in a statement on Thursday. “We are excited to have him headline the weekend activities that kickoff the start of the 2012 NASCAR season at PIR.”

Cruz is excited to drive the pace car before the 43-car field of Sprint Cup competitors.

“Having been a long-time fan of PIR and NASCAR, I am honored to be part of one of the most exciting sporting events in the Phoenix area,” said Cruz. “Similar to whenever I step into the ring, these drivers go out there and put it all on the line to win the race and give the fans a great show.”

Cruz, born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, is one of the coaches of the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter opposite long-time rival Urijah Faber. It will be the first season of the popular reality show on the Fox networks.

The Subway Fresh Fit 500 airs live on Fox on Sunday, March 4. The Ultimate Fighter 15, featuring Cruz as a coach debuts on March 9. Cruz and Faber will settle the rivalry in a third match up following the conclusion of the show’s finale.

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