Cruz to serve as NASCAR pace driver

Bantamweight Champ Dominick Cruz will serve as an honorary pace car driver for the Advocare 500 in Phoenix.  This will be the second time this year Cruz will make an appearance at a NASCAR event.

Earlier this year, Cruz served as the honorary driver at the Subway 500 held in Phoenix.  Jon Jones made an appearance at the Daytona 500 this year and Anderson Silva served as the honorary pace car driver for the Kobalt 500 last November in Phoenix.

Via UFC Press Release:

Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber announced today [October 25^th] that Ultimate Fighting Championship® bantamweight champion, and former star of The Ultimate Fighter® Live on FX, Dominick Cruz has been named Honorary Pace Car Driver for the AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, November 11.

“We are honored to have Dominick Cruz as our Honorary Pace Car Driver, he has always represented his sport and the state of Arizona with class,” said Sperber. “We know our fans will be excited to see him drive the pace car on race day.”

Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, Cruz, 27, has ascended to the top of his profession. Known for his outstanding speed and footwork, Cruz has compiled a 19-1-0 professional record that includes wins over the likes of Demetrious Johnson, Urijah Faber, Scott Jorgensen, Joseph Benavidez and Brian Bowles.

“I’m excited to be making my return to PIR and the Advocare 500 NASCAR race,” said Cruz. “My first experience in the pace car was one of the coolest and most unique opportunities I have ever had. To feel even a sliver of the adrenaline that these drivers experience was so awesome and I can’t wait to do it again.”

Cruz will participate in pre-race ceremonies and will make appearances onsite at PIR on Sunday, November 11. Additional information on race weekend activities is available on Phoenix International Raceway’s official website at www.phoenixraceway.com

Payout Perspective:

With the UFC-Fox relationship, it makes sense that there is some cross-promotion of the UFC and NASCAR.  Cruz has been out with an injury so helping out with marketing the UFC helps keep his name in the minds of UFC fans.  He must have done something well since he is coming back to be a pace car driver again.