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Women in the Toyota Long Beach Pro-Celebrity Race

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Dara Torres and Sarah Fisher celebrate

Toyota held its annual Pro-Celebrity race on the Long Beach road course between 1977 and 2016. The race usually featured a selection of professional drivers taking on celebrities over 10 laps in identical Toyota cars. Originally these were Celicas, but this changed to Scions in 2006.

The celebrity drivers normally had a 30-second head start over the pros. Celebrities included faces from the world of sport, cinema and TV. There was usually a motorsport reporter or two involved and often a Toyota employee or prizewinner in a competition. Celebrities who held on to their advantage to win the race were upgraded to Pro status for any subsequent events.

No women were invited to race in the first event in 1977, but stuntwoman and landspeed record chaser Kitty O’Neil became the first in 1978. Most women who have taken part fall into the Celebrity category, but there have been several Pros.

Olympic swimmer Dara Torres is the most successful woman in the race’s history, winning in 2002 and making five appearances in total. Pitlane reporter Jamie Little also managed to win the race in 2008.

Toyota moved its headquarters away from Long Beach after 2016 and the race was cancelled. 

1978
Kitty O’Neil - 8th

1979
Jayne Kennedy - 14th
Kitty O’Neil - 15th

1980
No female entrants

1981
Pam McInnis - 8th
Jennilee Harrison - DNS

1982
Kathy Rude (Pro) - DNF
Jennilee Harrison - DNF

1983
Margie Smith-Haas (Pro) - 6th

1984
Betty Thomas - 13th
Desire Wilson (Pro) - 14th

1985
Kathy Rude (Pro) - 12th
Raechel Donohue - 14h

1986
Ana Alicia - 9th

1987
Jean Lindamood - 6th
Justine Bateman - 15th

1988
Monica Brooks - 12th
Susan Ruttan - 15th
Nicolette Larson - 16th

1989
Cornelia Guest - 14th

1990
Monica Brooks - DNF?

1991
Marsha Mason - 11th
Susan Ruttan - 13th
Leeza Gibbons - 15th

1992
Ellen K - DNF?

1993
Crystal Bernard - DNF?
Mary Lou Retton - DNF?

1994
Christy Carlson - DNF?
Sylvia Aimerito - DNF?
Beth Tuschak - DNF?

1995
Shelly Anderson (Pro) - DNF?
Cameron Diaz - DNF?
Helene Udy - DNF?

1996
Sharon Lawrence - 6th
Kate Linder - 8th

1997
Christy Carlson - 3rd
Carol Alt - DNF?

1998
Kumi Sato (Pro) - 5th
Cameron Diaz - 6th
Cristen Powell - 15th
Junko Mihara (Pro) - 16th
Queen Latifah - 17th
Catherine Bell - DNF?

1999
Angelle Sampey (Pro) - 7th
Melissa Joan Hart - DNF?
Catherine Bell - DNF?
Kim Alexis - DNF?
Lauralee Bell - DNF?

2000
Lyn St. James (Pro) - 11th
Melissa Joan Hart - 12th
Alyson Hannigan - 14th
Ashley Judd - 15th

2001
Dara Torres - 4th
Sara Senske (Pro) - 12th
Elisa Donovan - 13th
Piper Perabo - 15th

2002
Dara Torres - winner
Danica Patrick (Pro) - 3rd
Sarah Fisher (Pro) - 5th

2003
Milka Duno (Pro) - 6th
Shawna Robinson (Pro) - 7th
Angie Everhart - 9th
Leilani Munter (Pro) - 10th
Picabo Street - 11th

2004
Dara Torres (Pro) - 5th
Melissa Joan Hart - 10th
Laila Ali - 11th
Andrea Parker - 12th
Liza Snyder - 14th
Li’l Kim - 16th
Jill Pasant - 17th

2005
Misty May - 8th
Amanda Beard -12th
Paige Hemmis - 16th

2006
Martina Navratilova - 3rd
Shannon Miller - 15th

2007
Martina Navratilova - 2nd
Emily Procter - 8th
Kelly Hu - 9th
Aisha Tyler - 11th
Kathryn Morris - 13th
Robin Quivers - 14th
Annamarie Dean - 15th
Kendra Wilkinson - 17th

2008
Jamie Little - winner
Beccy Gordon (Pro) - 15th
Sarena Traver - 16th
Nancy Liebermann - 18th

2009
Jamie Little (Pro) - 9th
Annamarie Dean - 12th
Mary Lynn Rajskub - 14th
Raven Symone - 18th

2010
Tika Sumpter - 14th
Megyn Price - 15th

2011
Megyn Price - 11th
Jillian Barberie Reynolds - 17th

2012
Kate del Castillo - 10th
Jillian Barberie Reynolds - 12th
Eileen Davidson - 15th

2013
Kate del Castillo - 10th
Melanie Troxel (Pro) - 12th
Jenna Elfman - 13th
Jessica Hardy - 15th
Wanda Sykes - 18th

2014
Tricia Helfer - 10th
Vanessa Marcil - 15th
Lisa Stanley - 17th
Carmelita Jeter - 19th/DNF

2015
Dara Torres (Pro) - 5th
Tricia Helfer - 13th
Donna Feldman - 15th

2016
Dara Torres (Pro) - 14th

(Image copyright espn.com)

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