UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell to Drive Pace Car at NASCAR Sprint Cup Race on Nov. 9

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Chuck Liddell will do the honors as the official Toyota pace car driver for the semifinal race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup on Nov. 9.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Famer will lead the field of racecars with an honorary lap around the one-mile oval prior to the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. In addition to his duties behind the wheel, Liddell will also make a promotional appearance at race track prior to the green flag.

“I can’t wait to get behind the wheel and pull out onto the track with the best drivers in the world at Phoenix International Raceway,” Liddell said via press release. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for what NASCAR drivers do, and to have the opportunity to lead them to the green flag in the semifinal race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup will be a huge honor.”

After joining the UFC in 1998 and winning eight of his first 10 bouts for the promotion, Liddell became champion in 2005 with a knockout of Randy Couture. From 2005 to 2007, he ruled the UFC’s 205-pound division, racking up wins over Renato Sobral, Jeremy Horn and Tito Ortiz (twice).

The “Iceman’s” reign ended in 2007, when he lost his title to Quinton Jackson. Liddell would be knocked out in the final three bouts of his career -- against Rashad Evans, Mauricio Rua and Rich Franklin.

Liddell currently works for the UFC as the company’s executive vice president of business development.