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©2000 SpeedCenter Publishing GEORGE LUCAS, ASHLEY JUDD AND CHRISTIAN SLATER AMONG STARS PARTICIPATING IN THE 24TH ANNUAL TOYOTA PRO/CELEBRITY RACE LONG BEACH, Calif. (Feb. 28, 2000) -- Major stars from film, television and sports are set to face off in the world's longest-running, most successful celebrity auto racing event. Toyota Motorsports today announced one of its most exciting fields in the history of the 24th annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race to be held in Long Beach, Calif. on Saturday, April 15. The 10-lap race, held on the 1.99-mile Champ Car track, will be part of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach race weekend. The expected field of 18 features and eclectic group of entertainment personalities, internationally renowned celebrities, and figures from sports and media.
Stars slated to drive in the race include: Returning to defend his title is the 1999 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race champion, Shaun Palmer, one of the most dominating athletes in the world of extreme sports. Palmer, three-time Winter Extreme Games gold medalist and five-time Snowboard World Champion, will compete in the professional category at this year's race. Additionally, three other professional drivers will compete for the checkered flag including: Lyn St. James, on of the top women race car drivers in the world, Robin Yount, baseball Hall of Famer and Derek Daly, Formula One racer. "The Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race is renowned for attracting top-name celebrity and professional drivers because it offers the high speed and challenge of real race car driving," explained Les Unger, Toyota's national motorsports manager. "We have one of our most diverse group of drivers ever for this year's event and expect a tremendous battle to the finish line." Also included in the current field of drivers are Dutch Mandel (editor of AutoWeek), as well as Jon Shirley and Don Simons, who both earned a spot by making a bid of $110,000 each at last year's Toyota Grand Prix Charity Ball auction for the 2000 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race seat. The 10-lap race will be broadcast on ESPN on Sunday, April 30 at 2:30 p.m. EST and again on ESPN2 on Thursday, May 11 at 6 p.m. EST. As part of the race event, Toyota will help raise more than $100,000 this year for "Racing for Kids," a non-profit program benefiting Southern California children's hospitals in Long Beach, Los Angeles and Orange County, by donating $5,000 in the name of each participant. Another $5,000 will be awarded to the race winner's charity of choice. Finally, a $10,000 donation will also be made in conjunction with the 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 14. Throughout the past nine years, the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race has generated nearly $800,000 for charity.
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