Carolla Overcomes String of Defeats to Win Pro Celebrity Race

Carolla, a comedian/actory who lately has been fired from most projects he is associated with except a self-produced podcast, sped to the finish line in the 2012 Toyota/Pro Celebrity Race, triumphing over a field of film, television, music and sports stars in what Toyota deems 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."

Here are the top 10 finishers in the 10-lap race:

1 (Celebrity) Adam Carolla: 18:29.315
2 (Celebrity) Hill Harper: 18:30.081
3 (Celebrity) Biff Gordon: 18:34.373
4 (Pro) Fredric Aasbo: 18:35.334
5 (Celebrity): Rutledge Wood: 18:35.864
6 (Celebrity) Cain Velasquez: 18:39.866
7 (Pro) William Fichtner: 18:41.977
8 (Celebrity) Adrien Brody: 18:44.421
9 (Pro) Jim Jonsin: 18:49.668
10 (Celebrity) Kate del Castillo: 18:51.279

Interesting to note that Rutledge Wood from Top Gear USA came in fifth. He can take consolation in the fact his show is still on the air while Carolla's Car Show was cancelled on the Speed network, which coincidentally will be airing the Celebrity race. (See details below.)

Scion drift driver and 2010 Formula Rookie of the Year Fredric Aasbo finished first in the Pro category. The pros had a 30-second handicap before taking off after the celebrities. Aasbo 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.

OK, maybe we're being harsh on Carolla, who is on the right in the accompanying picture. After all, he is on the current season of Celebrity Apprentice on NBC. Oh wait, he was fired from that, too, after screwing up a project launching the Buick Verano.

Let's focus on the positive. Toyota recounted in a press release that Carolla "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."

"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!"

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, Calif. Toyota has donated more than $2 million on behalf of the race and its participants to various children's hospitals since 1991.

Aasbo, on the left in the accompanying photo, 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, Aasbo did score the best lap time of any driver, making the circuit in 1:47:107. Aasbo 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."

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.)