UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva will lead the field of 43 cars to the green flag at Phoenix International Raceway on Nov. 13 for the Kobalt Tools 500.
Silva will serve as honorary pace car driver during the next to last race of the NASCAR season as the Chase for the Sprint Cup heats up at the newly repaved one mile oval known as “The Jewel of the Desert” to NASCAR fans.
“I’ve been a NASCAR fan for a long time and it’s an honor to be part of the upcoming event in Phoenix,” Silva said. “I have much respect for these guys and they are undoubtedly some of the toughest athletes in the world. I can’t wait to get in the pace car in Phoenix.”
Silva is the UFC’s longest reigning champion with 14 consecutive wins and is widely regarded as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
NASCAR points leader Carl Edwards will try to move one step closer to his first NASCAR Sprint Cup title by holding off hard charging former titleholder Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, and Chase newcomer Brad Keselowski. Former four-time Sprint Cup Champion Jeff Gordon won the first race at PIR this season in February.
