Long Beach Grand Prix 2004
Part of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach race
weekend, the annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race is held on the 1.97-mile
downtown Long Beach street circuit in Long Beach, Calif. Stars
from film, television, music and sports attempt to outpace and
out-maneuver each other to the checkered flag in a 10-lap charity
race.
#9: The Sean Astin Car
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Frankie Muniz, Christine Astin, Sean Astin
Andrea Parker, Sean Astin
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The field of seventeen racers in 2004 included an
eclectic group of entertainment personalities, internationally known
celebrities, and figures from sports and media:
- Sean Astin – ‘Samwise Gamgee’ in the Oscar-winning film “The
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”
- Lil’ Kim – Rap/Hip Hop Recording Artist
- Frankie Muniz – “Agent Cody Banks” films; FOX’s “Malcolm in the
Middle”
- Andrew Firestone – ABC’s “The Bachelor”
- Laila Ali – Female Super Middleweight Boxing Champion
- Carlos Bernard – ‘Tony Almeida’ on FOX’s “24”
- Andrea Parker – ‘Lydia Weston’ on ABC’s “Less Than Perfect”
- Chris McDonald – ‘Ted Shackleton’ on the new FOX series
“Cracking Up”
- Melissa Joan Hart – ABC’s “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch”
- Liza Snyder – ‘Christine Hughes’ on CBS’ “Yes, Dear”
- Tony Potts – “Access Hollywood” Correspondent
Click to Enlarge
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| “The Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race is renowned for
attracting celebrity and professional drivers because it offers the
high-speed challenge of real racing,” said Les Unger, Toyota’s
national motorsports manager. “With stars from film, television, music
and sports, this year’s race is sure to provide thrills for fans.”
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Also racing in 200 were Cliff Cummings, owner of
Toyota of San Bernardino; and Jill Pasant, who earned a spot by making
the high bid of $60,000 for the 2004 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race seat at
last year’s Toyota Grand Prix Charity Ball auction.
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| As part of the event, Toyota will help raise more
than $100,000 for “Racing for Kids,” a non-profit program benefiting
Southern California children’s hospitals in Long Beach and Orange
County. Toyota will donate $5,000 in the name of each participant, and
another $5,000 to the race winner’s charity of choice. |
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Finally, a $15,000 donation is made in conjunction
with the seventh 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 16. In the past
13 years, the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race has generated more than $1
million for charity.
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Max Papis, Emerson Fittipaldi, Sean Astin
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Sean Astin, Chris McDonald, Andrew Firestone
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Sean Astin, Andrew Firestone
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