NASCAR's Phoenix International Raceway sponsors UFC champ Benson Henderson

UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson has a new sponsor – as well as pace-car duties at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Phoenix race in November.

Officials recently announced that Phoenix International Raceway, which hosts NASCAR’s second-to-last event of 2013, has sponsored Henderson for his headliner with Anthony Pettis next week at UFC 164.

Henderson then will take a lap in the pace car at the Nov. 10 race, which airs on ESPN.

“We are truly delighted to be supporting Benson Henderson in his upcoming title fight,” stated Phoenix International Raceway president Bryan R. Sperber, who’s also sponsored Anderson Silva and Dominick Cruz ahead of past UFC title fights. “Having a local champion represented PIR in this important bout will be an exciting moment for all our NASCAR fans across the valley and around the state.”

Working in conjunction with Niner Sports Marketing President and Founder Craig Conley, PIR’s logo will be on Henderson’s walkout T-shirt and fight banner for his Aug. 31 title fight.

Henderson, who lives in Phoenix, fights out of the MMA Lab in Glendale.

“I am so happy and honored to be part of the PIR family,” Henderson stated. “Phoenix has become home for me, and I am so excited to be part of such a great event in my adopted hometown.”

Henderson (19-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC), who looks for his record fourth consecutive UFC lightweight title defense, and Pettis (16-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC), a late replacement for injured T.J. Grant, first fought in 2010. In the WEC’s final show, Pettis earned a unanimous-decision victory, aided by his late-fight “Showtime” kick, to take the WEC title. It remains Henderson’s only loss in the past six-and-a-half years and his past 18 fights. He looks for revenge in next week’s pay-per-view headliner.

For more on UFC 164, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.