World-Renowned Vegas Gaming Expert Picks Actor William Fichtner as Celebrity Favorite in 2011 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race

Pro Drivers Kody Swanson and Frankie Muniz Named by Odds-Maker Anthony Curtis as Neck-in-Neck to Take the Checkered Flag in Prestigious Grand Prix-Style Race on April 16

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Apr 05, 2011, 09:00 ET

LONG BEACH, Calif., April 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- William Fichtner is the celebrity pick selected by Las Vegas handicapper Anthony Curtis to challenge the pros in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race on Saturday, April 16, part of the 37th annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Fichtner is a versatile character actor who's appeared on such television series as "Prison Break" and "Entourage," and recently starred in the Nicolas Cage action flick "Drive Angry 3D." Professional driver Kody Swanson and actor–turned–pro racer Frankie Muniz are projected to battle it out for the coveted overall first-place spot. The 7-2 odds for Swanson and Muniz are the longest for the opening-line favorites in the four years Curtis has ranked the competition for the race.

Curtis, president of LasVegasAdvisor.com and one of the world's most recognized and quoted gambling authorities, has been handicapping the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race for many years and understands what it takes for the drivers to do well in the race, which donates money to the national nonprofit charity Racing for Kids.

"I've driven this track," said Curtis. "And I've watched drivers train, and it's exciting to see the thrill of competition a group displays—but they still have a lot of fun out there. It's really rewarding to know that their drive to win is rooted in caring about a good cause. Children in need will be the winners here, regardless of which car crosses the finish line first."

Curtis has sized up how the field of 18 celebrities and pros will perform in this historic 10-lap race for charity, which is conducted in race-ready Scion tCs on a 1.97-mile street circuit through the downtown streets of Long Beach in Southern California. He offers his exclusive expert predictions solely for entertainment purposes on www.lasvegasadvisor.com.

Here's how Curtis sees the field of 18 after four days of drivers' training at an undisclosed California desert locale.

*Celebrities:*
William Fichtner (8-1)	It's the actor's third race (he came in fourth when he drove in 2008), and he trained for three days. That dedication—and a sense of friendly competition with his pal Kim Coates—could help propel him toward the front of the pack.
Stephen Moyer (10-1)	The "True Blood" star was solid and smooth in training. And, according to his daughter, he's got plenty of practice at fast driving. Keep your eye on this one.
Daniel Goddard (16-1)	The actor raced in 2008, too—coming in one car ahead of Fichtner. Perhaps a competitive spirit will keep him in the running for top spot. If he stays focused on Friday, Goddard has a shot at the pole.
Kim Coates (16-1)	If passion for the sport translates to a good showing, the "Sons of Anarchy" star may just be the celeb to beat. His good friend Bill Fichtner will no doubt keep him on his toes, as well.
Michael Trucco (17-1)	This "Fairly Legal" star trained for the full four days and said he felt comfortable in the rain. He was relaxed and focused during training, which makes sense, given that he has past racing experience, as a driver in the Thunderhill Lemons Race.
AJ Buckley (18-1)	A laidback attitude may lead this Irish actor to a surprise win, or at least a strong showing. However, he did have some trouble in the rain during training—so he'll want a dry weekend, at the very least.
Djimon Hounsou (22-1)	Another star who is a huge racing fan, Hounsou drives fast cars even off the track. Plus, he drove stunningly well in the rain. Look out for him if race day is a wet one.
Tito Ortiz (24-1)	Though an amateur racer, we shouldn't forget that Ortiz is a professional athlete. Don't underestimate the power of a truly competitive spirit in the heat of battle.
Megyn Price (32-1)	The actress is competing for the second year in a row, and again is one of just two female drivers. Her strength here is her familiarity—she knows what to expect this go-round. If you're looking for a dark horse, Price just may be your gal.
Jillian Barberie Reynolds (35-1)	With her years of sports reporting, Barberie Reynolds is used to being a woman in a man's world. She'll be at a disadvantage because she can't make the morning sessions on practice day. (Guess she is not quitting her day job.)
Kevin Jonas (35-1)	The musician is tied for last spot primarily because of his inexperience with a stick shift, and because he missed the last training—which was a rainy one. But to Jonas's credit, he learned quickly; he'll just need to hope for a sunny race.

The Southern California Toyota dealer seat is being filled by Mike Sullivan, owner of Toyota of Hollywood and Toyota of Santa Monica. Also in the field in this year's race is charity auction winner Jerry Westlund.

Jerry Westlund (16-1)	The auction winner is racing for his third time, so he's no stranger to the course. Experience is a plus, so don't be surprised if he places this year.
Mike Sullivan (18-1)	The Toyota dealer is returning for a third time, and he has access to Toyotas year-round. With that background, he may just surprise us all.

The celebrity field is set to test its skills against a strong contingent of professionals (and two celebs racing as pros). The celebs might have a 30-second head start, but the professionals will catch up quickly.

*Professionals:*
Frankie Muniz (7-2)	This race, which Muniz has run four times since 2004, holds a special place in his heart—it was after his 2005 win that he decided to pursue racing professionally. It may be just the inspiration he needs to land him at the front of the pack.
Kody Swanson (7-2)	Swanson and Green were the only pro racers to opt in for all four days of training. Perhaps Swanson felt he needed the full four sessions to get accustomed to four extra gears—the midget cars he usually races only have one.
Ken Gushi (5-1)	This champion drifting driver only trained for two of the four days, but one of them was in the rain, so he's got wet conditions under his belt. Fellow drifter Tanner Foust performed well at last year's race—will Gushi match that…or exceed it?
Chris Rado (8-1)	Drag racer Rado trained for three days, and his time attack driving will be a tremendous advantage. Look for a strong performance, even though he's coming off knee surgery.
Brian Austin Green (10-1)	It's his third race but first in the pro category (after he was the top finishing celebrity driver in 2010). Green displayed his determination by showing up for all four practice sessions. As a pro, he'll be starting 30 seconds behind the celebs this year—will he be able to make up the time?

"It's been a pleasure to have Anthony Curtis handicap the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race once again for entertainment purposes," said Les Unger, Toyota's national motorsports manager. "Every year, his picks take the competition up a notch for the drivers and add an extra dimension of fun for the audience."

Toyota will donate $5,000 to Racing for Kids in the name of each celebrity racer and another $5,000 to the winning racer's charity of choice. Racing for Kids is a national nonprofit program that locally benefits children's hospitals in Long Beach and Orange County, Calif. On behalf of the race and its participants, Toyota has donated more than $1.9 million to various children's hospitals since 1991.

Finally, this year—as in many years past—a $15,000 donation will be made in conjunction with the annual People Pole Award. In its 14th year, the People magazine–sponsored award will honor the pole-position winner of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race qualifying session on Friday, April 15.

To learn more about the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, one of six main-event attractions taking place during the 37th annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, go to http://www.toyotaracing.com/, visit our Facebook page (Toyota Racing) or follow us on Twitter (@ToyotaRacing).

NOTE: Celebrity odds are provided for entertainment purposes only. Wagering on the outcome of the race is neither encouraged nor implied.

ABOUT ANTHONY CURTIS

Anthony Curtis is one of the world's most recognized and quoted gambling authorities. The president of LasVegasAdvisor.com, he has appeared as a casino expert on "Dateline NBC," "48 Hours," A&E, E! Entertainment, Discovery, the Travel Channel, the Food Channel and the Learning Channel. He has been the subject of articles in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, San Diego Union-Tribune, Los Angeles Times Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel and Discover magazine. Curtis is author of Bargain City—Booking, Betting and Beating the New Las Vegas and The Art of Gambling Through the Ages. Considered one of the world's foremost experts in tournament play, Curtis's top tournament wins include $76,000 in the World Matchplay Blackjack Championship, $125,000 in the Atlantic City Craps Championship, $50,000 in the Las Vegas Keno Championship and $60,000 in the Las Vegas Blackjack Championship.