Women in the Toyota Long Beach Pro-Celebrity Race

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)

Women in Toyota Atlantics/Formula Atlantic

Katherine Legge in 2005

The Atlantic Championship is a one-make single-seater series in the US which has historically acted as a feeder for IndyCar and Champ Car. It evolved from Formula Atlantic, previously called Formula B, which was based on production engines but not strictly a one-make series. Formula Atlantic also existed in the UK.

Toyota came on board in 1989 and sponsored the championship as well as providing engines. Atlantics were part of the CART family in 2004 to 2005, then functioned as the Champ Car development series in 2006 and 2007, similar to Indy Lights. The Atlantic Championship is currently run by USAC after some time under the SCCA umbrella.

Relatively few women have taken part in Toyota Atlantics, although some have been very successful. Danica Patrick scored a number of podiums in her two seasons there and Katherine Legge won three races in 2005. Simona de Silvestro managed five wins over two seasons.

During the Toyota era, Atlantics were masterminded by Vicki O’Connor of the ProMotion agency. She co-ordinated the championship until it was bought out by CART.

Toyota Atlantic Championship

1997

Carol Soucy (Scalzo Racing) - 33rd (3 races)

2003

Danica Patrick (Team Rahal) - 6th (12 races)

2004

Danica Patrick (Team Rahal) - 3rd (12 races)

2005

Katherine Legge (Polestar Racing Group) - 3rd (12 races)

Champ Car Atlantic

2007

Simona de Silvestro (Walker Racing) - 19th (12 races)

Atlantic Championship

2008

Simona de Silvestro (Newman/Wachs Racing) - 8th (11 races)

2009

Simona de Silvestro (Team Stargate Worlds) - 3rd (12 races)

Atlantic Championship Series (USAC)

2017

Jenna Grillo (K-Hill Motorsports) - 13th (4 races)

(Image copyright Kurt Dahlstrom)

Women in NASCAR: the results

The 1977 Firecracker 400: l-r, Janet Guthrie, Lella Lombardi, Lee Petty, Christine Beckers, Louise Smith

Below is a list of all of the female drivers who have competed in NASCAR’s top-level competition of its time, currently known as the Sprint Cup. Read more about women in NASCAR here and here.

1949 (Strictly Stock, 8 races)

Sara Christian (Ford/Oldsmobile) - 13th (6 races)

Ethel Flock Mobley (Cadillac) - 52nd (2 races)

Louise Smith (Ford) - 63rd (3 races)

1950 (Grand National, 19 races)

Sara Christian (Ford) - 107th (1 race)

Louise Smith (Ford/Nash) - 109th (3 races)

Ann Bunselmeyer (Packard) - 126th (1 race)

Ann Chester (Plymouth) - unplaced (2 races)

Ann Slaasted (Lincoln) - unplaced (1 race)

1954 (Grand National, 37 races)

Marian “Mopsy” Pagan (Plymouth) - unplaced (1 race)

1965 (Grand National, 55 races)

Goldie Parsons (Oldsmobile) - unplaced (1 race)

1976 (Winston Cup, 30 races)

Janet Guthrie (Chevrolet) - unplaced (5 races)

1977 (Winston Cup, 30 races)

Janet Guthrie (Chevrolet) - 23rd (19 races)

Lella Lombardi (Chevrolet) - unplaced (1 race)

Christine Beckers (Ford) - unplaced (1 race)

1978 (Winston Cup, 30 races)

Janet Guthrie (Chevrolet/Buick) - 41st (7 races)

1980 (Winston Cup, 31 races)

Janet Guthrie (Chevrolet/Ford) - 69th (2 races)

1982 (Winston Cup, 30 races)

Robin McCall (Buick) - 74th (2 races)

1987 (Winston Cup, 29 races)

Patty Moise (Chevrolet) - 96th (1 race)

1988 (Winston Cup, 29 races)

Patty Moise (Buick) - 59th (2 races)

1989 (Winston Cup, 29 races)

Patty Moise (Buick) - 69th (2 races)

2001 (Winston Cup, 36 races)

Shawna Robinson (Ford) - 66th (1 race)

2002 (Winston Cup, 36 races)

Shawna Robinson (Dodge) - 52nd (7 races)

2012 (Sprint Cup, 36 races)

Danica Patrick (Chevrolet) - unplaced (10 races)

2013 (Sprint Cup, 36 races)

Danica Patrick (Chevrolet) - 27th (36 races)

2014 (Sprint Cup, 36 races)

Danica Patrick (Chevrolet) - 28th (36 races)

2015 (Sprint Cup, 36 races)

Danica Patrick (Chevrolet) - 24th (36 races)

2016 (Sprint Cup, 36 races)

Danica Patrick (Chevrolet) - 24th (36 races)

2017 (Monster Energy Cup, 35 races)

Danica Patrick (Ford) - 28th (35 races)

2018

Danica Patrick (Ford) - 1 race

(Image source unknown)