Anderson Silva, NASCAR Driver?

Undefeated UFC® middleweight champion Anderson Silva will lead the field to the green flag behind the wheel of the Official Pace Car – Toyota Venza – at the start of the Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, Nov. 13. As the official pace car driver in Phoenix’s NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup event, the 36-year-old mixed martial artist will take an honorary lap on the newly repaved and reconfigured one-mile oval.

“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.”

Widely regarded as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Silva is the UFC’s longest reigning champion, with 14 consecutive wins – a streak that has lasted five and a half years. He has been proclaimed by UFC president Dana White as “the greatest fighter in the history of mixed martial arts” and is ranked as the No. 1 middleweight in the world by multiple publications.

Silva will be available for interview at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 13 in the infield media center.

Tickets for the Kobalt Tools 500 on November 13 and the WYPALL* 200 on November 12 at Phoenix International Raceway are available by calling 866-408-RACE (7223) or by visiting PhoenixRaceway.com.