Drivers Announced for 'Fueled By Fame' 2011 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race

Drivers Announced for 'Fueled By Fame' 2011 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race

2010 Celebrity Winner Brian Austin Green Returns to Compete with the Pros;

Kevin Jonas, Stephen Moyer, Kimora Lee Simmons and Djimon Hounsou, Among Others, Get Behind the Wheel for Charity

LONG BEACH, Calif., Feb. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- For the 35th year, the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race will bring together a star-studded field of Hollywood's elite to race for charity. On Saturday, April 16, stars from film, television, music, sports and fashion will showcase their newly earned racing chops in identically prepared, race-ready Scion tCs on the historic 10-lap, 1.97-mile street circuit through the downtown streets of Long Beach in Southern California.

This year's anticipated field of 20 drivers, competing in what has become the world's longest-running, most prestigious celebrity racing event, includes the following assortment of beloved entertainment and media personalities:

Film and television actor recently starred in
NBC's "Law and Order." Film credits include
"Transformers," "The Departed" and "Me, Myself
& Irene." Upcoming appearances include "The
-- Anthony Anderson Big Year" and "Scream 4."

--Jillian Barberie Television personality and co-host on news show
Reynolds "Good Day LA" and anchor on "FOX NFL Sunday."

World-famous supermodel. Once the face of Ralph
Lauren, he recently starred as a mentor and
-- Tyson Beckford judge on Bravo's "Make Me a Supermodel."

Television and film actor best known for roles
in "CSI: Miami," "Ugly Betty," "Vanished,"
"Invasion," "Third Watch," "Sunset Beach," and
-- Eddie Cibrian "Baywatch Nights."

Film and television actor best known for his
roles in "Sons of Anarchy," "Resident Evil:
Afterlife," "Prison Break," "CSI: Miami,"
-- Kim Coates "Black Hawk Down" and "Pearl Harbor."

Musician most noted for being the bandleader on
"The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." He released
-- Kevin Eubanks his album "Zen Food" in 2010.

Actor recognized as the face and voice of
Allstate Insurance. Best known for his work on
"The Unit," "24," "Jarhead" and "Now and
-- Dennis Haysbert Again."

Two-time Academy Award-nominated actor known
for blockbuster films "In America," "Blood
-- Djimon Hounsou Diamond," "Amistad" and "Gladiator."

Guitarist in the Jonas Brothers band. Along with
his brothers, he starred in "Camp Rock" and has
released a number of Billboard Top 100 albums,
-- Kevin Jonas including "A Little Bit Longer."

Actor currently starring in the Golden
Globe-nominated HBO series "True Blood." He has
also played roles in "The Starter Wife" and "88
-- Stephen Moyer Minutes."

World-famous UFC Light Heavyweight champion and
owner of the highly successful athletic-wear
brand Punishment Athletics. He also coached two
-- Tito Ortiz seasons of "The Ultimate Fighter."

Actress and comedian who currently stars on
CBS's "Rules of Engagement." Previous series
-- Megyn Price include "Grounded for Life" and "LateLine."

Designer and fashion model. Starred in the Style
Network's "Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane" and
-- Kimora Lee Simmons founded the clothing empire Baby Phat.

Last year's winning celebrity driver, Brian Austin Green, will return this go-around to race in the Pro category. Other pros vying for the title include drifting champion Kenshiro Gushi, top import drag-racing professional and founder of WORLD Motorsports Christian Rado and USAC National midget car series champion Kody Swanson.

"As the crown jewel of celebrity race events for more than three decades, the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race has managed to transform dozens of celebrities into high-speed racers, while also changing the lives of children in need," said Les Unger, Toyota's national motorsports manager. "The race is a win-win for everyone; it gives fans a chance to see their favorite performers rush across a real racetrack while offering the celebrities an unparalleled opportunity to 'give back' to a worthwhile cause."

Rounding out the field are charity auction winners Jerry Westlund, racing for his third year,and Karen Hanover. The final seat on the track, reserved each year for a Southern CaliforniaToyota dealer, is being filled by Mike Sullivan, owner of Toyota of Hollywood and Toyota of Santa Monica.

On behalf of each celebrity racer, Toyota donates $5,000 to Racing for Kids every year and another $5,000 to the winning racer's charity of choice. Racing for Kids, a national nonprofit program benefiting children's hospitals throughout the country, (in this case, Miller Children's Hospital in Long Beach and Children's Hospital in Orange County, Calif.), was created as a way to connect sick children with their favorite celebrities and race-car drivers. Toyota has donated more than $1.9 million to various children's hospitals since 1991, on behalf of this race and its participants.

Additionally, a $15,000 donation will be made in conjunction with the 14th-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 15.

To learn more about the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, one of six main-event attractions taking place during the 37th-annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, go to http://www.toyotaracing.com/.

Contacts:
Jenn Blum
212-367-6924
jennifer.blum@eurorscg.com

Kym Strong
310-874-2513
Kym_strong@toyota.com

Sharon Noot
714-527-7735
sharon@nootinc.com

SOURCE Toyota

Toyota

CONTACT: Jenn Blum, +1-212-367-6924, jennifer.blum@eurorscg.com; or Kym Strong, +1-310-874-2513, Kym_strong@toyota.com; or Sharon Noot, +1-714-527-7735, sharon@nootinc.com

Web Site: http://www.toyotaracing.com

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