Comedian and car enthusiast, Adam Carolla, takes the overall win in the 2012 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race while Drifter, Fredric Aasbø, wins Pro

LONG BEACH, Calif. (April 14, 2012) Comedian/actor Adam Carolla sped to the finish line in the 2012 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, triumphing over a field of film, television, music and sports stars in an exceptionally exciting and competitive event. The roaring crowd witnessed a thrilling battle for first place in a tight field of drivers, with a late-race surge by actor Hill Harper that surprised drivers and fans alike. Scion drift driver and 2010 Formula Rookie of the Year Fredric Aasbø finished first in the Pro category. 2012 pro celeb winners 2701Carolla, host of acclaimed comedy podcast “Adam Carolla Show,” co-creator of “The Man Show” and a contestant on the current season of “The Celebrity Apprentice,” made a daring maneuver when he passed the pole position starter, actor Kim Coates, as the two sped around a corner in the fourth lap. Carolla maintained his lead throughout the remainder of the race, despite the rally by Harper, who seemed to come out of nowhere as he challenged Carolla for the lead in the final laps. Carolla and Harper battled it out for victory, with Carolla finishing less than one second ahead of the “CSI: NY” actor. Race For KidsFrom his race start in the fourth row, Harper’s second-place finish was particularly impressive. In the pro category, Aasbø fought his way to a fourth-place finish overall, closing the 30-second delay of the professional drivers to end up just six seconds behind Carolla. “In my past races, I finished third and ninth, so I expected to finish somewhere between 15th and 18th this time,” Carolla said. “But it’s a really amazing feeling to win. And I’m also thrilled to benefit the kids at the children’s hospitals—and also the parents, who are by their kids’ side around the clock. This win is for the parents!” adam turn 10 2701“This race was extremely competitive,” said Les Unger, national motorsports manager with Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. “Adam really pulled it out, but Hill Harper’s unexpected challenge in the final laps had the fans holding their breath. It’s not unusual for a celebrity to come in first overall, but for the celebrity drivers to compete neck-and-neck is exciting. These drivers were incredibly competitive, and the crowd was just thrilled. All their enthusiasm is, ultimately, for a great cause, and the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race is proud to be able to make it happen.” Adam CelebreatingAasbø spent the duration of the race battling to overcome the pros’ 30-second handicap, quickly weaving among the racers. Though he was unable to make it to the front of the field, Aasbø did score the best lap time of any driver, making the circuit in 1:47:107. Aasbø was happy to stand on the victory stage alongside Carolla and said, “I am so excited just to have been a part of the race, competing alongside all these great people. I feel like I have made a group of great friends here, and I am so grateful to Toyota for putting this all together to benefit the children’s hospitals.”

FINAL RACE RESULTS

Position Class Name Laps Time
1 Celebrity Adam Carolla 10 18:29.315
2 Celebrity Hill Harper 10 18:30.081
3 Celebrity Biff Gordon 10 18:34.373
4 Pro Fredric Aasbø 10 18:35.334
5 Celebrity Rutledge Wood 10 18:35.864
6 Celebrity Cain Velasquez 10 18:39.866
7 Pro William Fichtner 10 18:41.977
8 Celebrity Adrien Brody 10 18:44.421
9 Pro Jim Jonsin 10 18:49.668
10 Celebrity Kate del Castillo 10 18:51.279
11 Celebrity Jerry Westlund 10 18:53.067
12 Celebrity Jillian Barberie Reynolds 10 18:53.504
13 Pro Bryan Clauson 10 19:06.241
14 Celebrity Doug Fregin 10 19:18.956
15 Celebrity Eileen Dickinson 10 19:43.266
16 Celebrity Eddie Cibrian 9 18:44.896
17 Celebrity Kim Coates 7 12:58.700
18 Celebrity Brody Jenner 3 5:32.671
90K check Toyota will donate $5,000 to Racing for Kids in the name of each celebrity racer and an additional $5,000 to Carolla’s charity of choice, Catholic Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Racing for Kids is a national nonprofit program benefiting children’s hospitals in Long Beach and Orange County, California. Toyota has donated more than $2 million on behalf of the race and its participants to various children’s hospitals since 1991.

15K one heart source charity

Additionally, a $15,000 donation was made in conjunction with the annual People Pole Award. Sponsored by People magazine, the award was given to actor Kim Coates’ charity of choice, One Heart Source (in Africa).

The Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race is scheduled to be broadcast on the Speed Channel on Saturday, April 28, and will be re-air numerous times. (See local listings or www.speedtv.com for details.)

Quotes And Trivia:

line up1Jillian Barberie Reynolds: “OMG, I finished!” Adam Corolla, extremely touched by the Hospital visit on Thursday, thanked the parents of the sick children for their commitment to their children. Kim Coates: “this race is truly special” was ecstatic to win money for oneheartsource.org (in Africa) by qualifying on the pole. “I’m so happy to win this donation for One Heart Source (in Africa). That $15,000 is going to be put to such good use in an organization my daughter is active with; I couldn’t be more thrilled”  Hill Harper: “I thought we had one more lap, I would have pressured Adam and been a bit more aggressive” JimBishop071FAST LANE Instructor, Jim Bishop: “Considering Harper Hill’s first weekend of training, I’m so impressed at how he did in the race. He was really putting pressure on Adam and who knows what would have happened with a couple of more laps – definitely gets the “hard charger award” in my book.” Although Brody Jenner was taken out of the race fairly early, he was a great sport and kept a good attitude by giving the field a thumbs up as they passed his car (which sadly stayed parked between T9 and T10 for the entire race) ruteledge danny 2701Danny McKeever: “This year’s group of TGPLB Pro/Celebrity competitors were unique in that they continued to support one another and give each other confidence. Adam Carolla ran a solid race and deserved his win! My heartfelt congratulations goes out to all competitors for reaching their individual goals “. 38th annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, Danny McKeever finishes his 28th year leading the instruction for the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.
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