Drivers for 2014 Pro/Celebrity Race

Olympic Champion Carmelita Jeter, Academy Award Winner Adrien Brody and Turbocharged Personalities Including Phil Keoghan and Corbin Bleu Get Behind the Wheel for Charity

LONG BEACH, CA--(Marketwired - Mar 6, 2014) - Grand Prix Association of Long Beach officials announced today the 20 participants from film, television, music and sports who will compete in the 2014 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race. The 38th annual charity race will take place April 12 on the 1.97-mile street course in downtown Long Beach, Calif., as part of the 40th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend.

The field of racers will take to the streets in 210-horsepower Scion FR-S race-prepped cars navigating high speeds and demanding turns to benefit "Racing for Kids," a national fundraising program supporting children's hospitals throughout the United States. The announced field of intensely competitive individuals includes:

 

Sam Witwer (Aidan Waite from "Being Human") is just one of the fifteen
celebrity drivers for the 2014 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race.

 

•Eric Braeden (@EBraeden): Emmy award-winning daytime superstar most recognized as Victor Newman on the popular soap opera "The Young and the Restless."

•Adrien Brody: Academy award-winning actor for his role in "Pianist." Most recently seen in "The Grand Budapest Hotel" and Academy Award-winning "Midnight in Paris."

•Corbin Bleu (@CorbinBleu): Actor, model, dancer, producer and singer-songwriter who performed in the "High School Musical" film series and was the first runner-up in the 2013 Fall season of "Dancing with the Stars."

•Brett Davern (@BDavv): Actor who stars as Jake Rosati in MTV's hit series "Awkward." Other credits include the films "Movie 43" and "Born to Race: Fast Track."

•Colin Egglesfield (@CEgglesfield): Actor best known for his roles on "Rizzoli & Isles," "The Client List," and "Melrose Place," plus films such as "Open Road," and "Something Borrowed."

•Carmelita Jeter (@CarmelitaJeter): American sprinter and three-time Olympic Gold medalist, often dubbed "the fastest woman in the world."

•Cole Hauser (@ColeHauser): Television and film actor who stars with Johnny Depp in the soon to be released "Transcendence." "Olympus Has Fallen" and "A Good Day to Die Hard," are among his other action film credits.

•Tricia Helfer (@TrutriciaHelfer): Actress recently seen in the television show "Killer Women," she also starred in "Battlestar Galactica" and "Burn Notice."

•Phil Keoghan (@PhilKeoghan): Emmy award-winning New Zealand-born television personality best known for his role as host of the popular series "Amazing Race."

•Vanessa Marcil (@VanessaMarcilM): Actress best known for her roles in "General Hospital," "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Las Vegas."

•Brian McKnight (@ItsBMcKnight): Multiple Grammy nominated singer-songwriter, producer and R&B musician.

•Lisa Stanley (@LisaKearth): Entertainment reporter on K-EARTH 101 FM morning show with Gary Bryan. Also featured on TV's "Hard Copy" and radio's "Rick Dees Show."

•Max Thieriot (@MaxThieriot): Actor who currently stars as Dylan Massett on "Bates Motel." Other credits include the film "House at the End of the Street" and "Catch That Kid."

•Nick Wechsler (@Nick_Wechsler): Actor seen currently on ABC's "Revenge" as Jack Porter. He also starred in "Roswell" and had recurring roles on "Without a Trace" and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."

•Sam Witwer (@SamWitwer): Portrays vampire Aidan Waite on the North American remake of "Being Human." He was also seen on "Battlestar Galactica" and "Smallville."

Pro drivers competing against the stars include former NASCAR racer and FOX personality Kyle Petty, the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, two-time CART Series Champion and overall winner of the 1985 and 2009 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race Al Unser Jr. and Rutledge Wood, 2013 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race celebrity winner, auto racing analyst on Fox Sports 1 and co-host of "Top Gear USA."

"This is an exciting and competitive group of stars, athletes, musicians and pro drivers that will put on a great show," said Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association. "It's fitting that we will have such a great field for the Pro/Celebrity Race during our 40th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend. And thanks to Toyota, the Pro/Celebrity Race gives back to kids in our communities through donations to Miller Children's Hospital Long Beach and Children's Hospital of Orange County."

Rounding out the field are charity auction winner Doug Fregin, co-founder and former vice president of operations for Research in Motion (RIM) and Dr. William Pinsky, founder and president of "Racing for Kids."

Since 1991, Toyota has donated more than $2 million to the "Racing for Kids" organization on behalf of this race and its participants.

Fans can follow the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on Facebook at GrandPrixLB, Twitter @ToyotaGPLB (#TGPLB40) and Instagram at ToyotaGPLB.

 

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Youth from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford County Rev Up for a NASCAR Race with Rancher’s Reserve Beef

From the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford County:

Rancher’s Reserve beef, a Cargill beef brand available exclusively at Safeway, is making it possible for kids at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford County to experience a NASCAR Nationwide Series race for the first time at the Dover International Speedway on Sept. 29 in Dover, Del.

“Safeway and Rancher’s Reserve beef know that race time is a great way to enjoy time with friends and family,” said Sarah Hecox, brand manager, Cargill. “We are happy to provide a fun, educational activity for the kids of Harford County. It is our hope that they will learn more about racing and will remember this experience for years to come.”

Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford County consist of four locations throughout the county. Since those attending the NASCAR experience live in areas about an hour from the Speedway, Rancher’s Reserve beef is providing bus transportation to and from the race.

“At the Boys & Girls Clubs, we strive to provide healthy, safe activities for the kids who cannot afford, or may lack access to, other community programs,” said Tim Wills, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Harford County. “Attending a NASCAR race, and having everything from transportation to the tickets provided, is a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the kids in Harford County.”

Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.

Josh S. from the Bel Air branch said he is excited to attend the race. “I can’t wait to see how fast the cars go,“ he said.

Cargill Beef is sponsoring Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., driver of the Rancher’s Reserve No. 6 Ford Mustang, in 15 races for the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series and a Sprint Cup race. Safeway is sponsoring the Nationwide Series race on Sept. 29 and the Sprint Cup Series race on Sept. 30 in Dover, Del.

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