Little holds off Skinner to win Pro-Celebrity race at Long Beach
Mike Skinner and Jamie Little |
Gail Miller/AutoRacing1 |
It was a finish worthy of the Good 'Ol Boys!
Celebrity driver Jamie Little, a NASCAR pit reporter, held off pro driver Mike Skinner, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion, in a fender-rubbing duel on the final turn of the final lap and held on to win the 32nd Annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race today.
Skinner, who led all qualifiers and, like all the pro drivers started 30 seconds behind the celebrities, moved up quickly through the field chasing Pixar Animation director/producer Brad Lewis, who started on the pole and led until the final lap.
Then, going into turn 9 of the final lap, Lewis lost control of his Scion tC and hit the tire barrier, opening the gates for the last-lap dramatics. Little crossed the line 0.324 seconds ahead of Skinner.
Daniel. Goddard from TV's "The Young and the Restless" finished third, more than three seconds behind Little.
The final results of the 32nd Annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race:
1. Jamie Little, Celebrity
2. Mike Skinner, Pro
3. Daniel Goddard, Celebrity
4. William Fichtner, Celebrity
5. Tony Pedregon, Pro
6. Whit Bazemore, Pro
7. Drew Lachey, Celebrity
8. Marty Nothstein, Pro
9. Brad Lewis, Celebrity
10. Bud Gordon, Celebrity
11. Wilmer Valderamma, Celebrity
12. Craig Barto, Celebrity
13. Eric Dickerson, Celebrity
14. Raymond Cruz, Celebrity
15. Beccy Gordon, Pro
16. Sarena Traver, Pro
17. John Salley, Celebrity
18. Nancy Lieberman, Celebrity