An unprecedented number of female stars of film, television and sports will be donning their helmets and strapping their seatbelts in race-ready Toyota Scion tCs for this year’s Toyota/Pro Celebrity Race on Saturday, April 14, as part of the 33rd Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. As the winner of the 2006 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, professional skateboarder and X Games Gold Medalist Bucky Lasek returns in the “Pro” category in 2007. Lasek joins three other drivers in the “Pro” category including NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Pro Champions Mike Skinner and Todd Bodine and NHRA Champion Scott Kelley. 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. Racing for Kids is a non-profit program benefiting children’s hospitals in Long Beach and Orange County, Calif. Finally, a $15,000 donation is 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 13.(Earth Times)(3-6-2007)
UPDATE: Mike Skinner recently traveled to Willow Springs International Motorsports Park in Rosamond, Calif., for a training session with the celebrities, who will compete in identically prepared Toyota Scions. Reigning Truck Series champ Todd Bodine was originally scheduled to participate but had to cancel his appearance.(Scene Daily)(4-13-2007)
UPDATE 2: Skinner first in Pro Category: BMX champion Dave Mirra won Saturday’s Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race in Long Beach, crossing the finish line ahead of former tennis star Martina Navratilova. Actor Joshua Morrow, star of “The Young & The Restless,” came in third. Truck Series champion Mike Skinner finished first in the Pro category and fourth overall.(cbs2.com)(4-15-2007)
