25 Year Racing Legacy Attracts Stars Greg Kinnear, Ben Stiller and William Shatner.

Entertainment Writers

LONG BEACH, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Feb. 20, 2001

For the 25th-consecutive year, top celebrities from film, television, sports and fashion are revving up to compete at the 2001 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race.

Toyota Motorsports today announced one of its most thrilling fields for the Silver Anniversary of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race to be held in Long Beach, on Saturday, April 7. The 10-lap race, held on the 1.99-mile Champ Car track, is part of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach race weekend.

The expected field of 19 features a variety of entertainment personalities, internationally renowned celebrities, and figures from sports and media.

Stars driving in the race include: Greg Kinnear ("The Gift" and "As Good As It Gets"), Ben Stiller (star of "Meet the Parents" and "There's Something About Mary"), William Shatner ("Star Trek" and "T.J. Hooker"), David Boreanaz (star of the television series "Angel"), Jason Biggs ("American Pie" and "Saving Silverman"), Jim Kelly (record breaking NFL quarterback), Michael Johnson (Olympic track and field gold medalist), Billy Blanks (Tae Bo phenomenon inventor), Mark Consuelos (`Mateo Santos' on "All My Children"), Piper Perabo ("Coyote Ugly"), Jon Seda ("Third Watch"), Antonio Sabato, Jr. (Calvin Klein model) and Mark Steines ("Entertainment Tonight" correspondent).

Returning to defend his title is the 2000 Toyota Pro/Celebrity race champion Josh Brolin, an accomplished stage performer and actor. Brolin was most recently seen in "Hollow Man" and also appeared in "Slow Burn," "All the Rage," and "Best Laid Plans."

Additionally, three other professional drivers are competing for the winner's circle spot including: Lynx Racing Driver, Sara Senske, NASCAR Goody's Dash three-time defending champion, Robert Huffman, and 10-year CART veteran, Scott Pruett.

"The Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race is renowned for attracting top-name celebrity and professional drivers because it offers the high speed challenge of real car racing," said Les Unger, Toyota's national motorsports manager. "We have one of our most diverse groups ever racing in this year's event and expect a tremendous battle to the finish."

Also, in the current field of drivers is Dave Pasant who is competing after making a high bid of $76,000 at last year's Toyota Grand Prix Charity Ball auction for the 2001 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race. Rounding out the current field of drivers is Tom Rudnai, vice-president and general manager of Longo Toyota and Lexus in El Monte, Calif.

Featuring a field of 19 drivers, the 2001 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race will be broadcast in its entirety on ESPN, Saturday, April 28 at 3:00 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's children's hospitals in Long Beach 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 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 6. All told, the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race has generated more than $1 million for charity.