UFC Champion Dominick Cruz To Drive Pace Car At AdvoCare 500

UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz has been selected to drive the Honorary Pace Car at the AdvoCare 500 on November 11th at Phoenix International Raceway. Cruz has been the only bantamweight champion in the UFC's history and was recently a coach on FX's The Ultimate Fighter Live.

"We are honored to have Dominick Cruz as our Honorary Pace Car driver, he has always represented the state of Arizona well," said Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber. "We know our fans will be excited to see him drive the pace car on race day."

Cruz was born in Tucson, Arizona, and began his professional mixed martial arts career in Phoenix. From 2005 to 2006, Cruz went 6-0 in Arizona's Rage in the Cage MMA promotion.

Cruz won the WEC bantamweight title in March of 2010 with a TKO victory over Brian Bowles, and successfully defended the WEC belt twice, with victories over Joseph Benavidez and Scott Jorgensen. In December of 2010, he became the inaugural UFC bantamweight champion and has victories over Urijah Faber and Demetrious Johnson inside the Octagon.

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

Cruz will participate in pre-race ceremonies and will make an appearance at PIR on Sunday, November 11th.