LONG BEACH, Calif., Feb. 23, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Stars from film, television, music and sports will attempt to outpace and out-maneuver each other April 9 in the 29th annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race.
Celebrities in this world-renowned, 10-lap race for charity will tear through a 1.97-mile street circuit in downtown Long Beach, Calif. Part of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the Pro/Celebrity race provides fans with a little star-gazing to go along with the excitement that takes over the waterfront for an entire weekend.
The expected field of 21 includes the following group of fiercely competitive entertainment personalities, internationally known celebrities, sports stars and media:
-- Amanda Beard U.S. Olympic swimmer (7-time Medalist)
-- Simon Cowell "American Idol" judge, author
-- Patrick Dempsey "Sweet Home Alabama," "Iron Jawed Angels,"
"Once & Again,"
-- Michael Irvin 3-Time Super Bowl champion (Dallas Cowboys);
actor, "The Longest Yard;" ESPN commentator
-- Orlando Jones "Father of the Pride," "Drumline," "Say It
Isn't So," "The Replacements"
-- John Leguizamo "Assault on Precinct 13," "Moulin Rouge!,"
"Ice Age," "Summer of Sam"
-- Karl Malone Future Hall of Fame NBA Great; former
Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers player
-- Misty May U.S. Olympic beach volleyball player
(Gold Medalist)
-- Meat Loaf Singer, "Paradise by the Dashboard Light,"
"I Would Do Anything for Love;" actor,
"Fight Club"
-- Dave Mirra Professional BMX rider (14-time X Games
Medalist)
-- Mo'Nique "Soul Plane," "The Parkers," "It's Showtime
at the Apollo"
-- Aaron Piersol U.S. Olympic swimmer (4-time Medalist)
-- Ingo Rademacher "General Hospital," "Titans"
-- Henry Simmons "NYPD Blue," "Taxi," "Are We There Yet?"
-- Nicollette Sheridan "Desperate Housewives," "Knots Landing"
-- Mark Steines Anchor, "Entertainment Tonight"
Returning this year is the 2004 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race champion, Christopher McDonald (with three projects currently in post production - including Rob Reiner's "Rumor Has It"). As the 2004 winner, McDonald will now compete with three other drivers in the "Pro" category.
In addition to McDonald, the professional drivers competing for the checkered flag are:
Ryan Arciero (three-time Baja 1000 champion racer), Matt Scranton (NHRA sport concept car drag racer) and Rhys Millen (GTO Drift Team racer).
"The Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race draws some of the most competitive celebrity and professional drivers because it offers the high-speed challenge of real racing, combined with a worthwhile charitable endeavor," said Les Unger, Toyota's national motorsports manager. "Last year's race was down to the wire and this year's race is sure to provide more of the same for fans."
Also racing in this year's event is Mike Sullivan, dealer principal for both Toyota of Santa Monica and Toyota of Hollywood.
Toyota will raise more than $100,000 for "Racing for Kids," a non-profit program benefiting children's hospitals in Long Beach, Calif. and Orange County. Toyota will donate $5,000 to "Racing for Kids" in the name of each celebrity racer, and another $5,000 to the winning racer's charity of choice.
Finally, a $15,000 donation is made in conjunction with the eighth annual "PEOPLE Pole Award." Sponsored by PEOPLE magazine, the award honors the pole-position winner of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race qualifying session on Friday, April 8. In the past 14 years, the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race has generated more than $1.2 million for children's hospitals in Southern California.
The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach logo can be found at: http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1436