Toyota Pro/Celebrity

Biography

Westlund enters this year’s race as one of two 2010 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race auction winners. He became a fan of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach years ago when he was just 12 years old and was dropped off at the track to enjoy the race. He had always wondered what it would be like to be part of the race—and now he can live out his dream for the second time as a participant of the race.

A fast pace is nothing new to Westlund, who spends long days and late nights working as the owner of more than a dozen nightclubs around the country. When the time comes to slow things down, he enjoys spending time with his daughter, Emily.

Because Toyota will donate $5,000 to the winning racer’s charity of choice, Westlund will not only be training with world-class instructors and racing against A-list celebrities, but he’ll also be taking advantage of the opportunity to race on behalf of the Long Beach Boys and Girls Club, per his daughter’s request.

Highlights:

• Began a professional career in politics as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento, Calif.


• Began his first nightclub as a country-western bar


• Was also the auction’s highest bidder in 2007