The 18th season begins with 11 former teams who failed to win returning for a chance to claim the $1 million prize. The race starts in Palm Springs, Cal., and continues in Sydney, Australia, where the teams swim with sharks and receive a surprise from Phil at the pit stop.

While in Japan, one team's hopes are shattered after a car crash jolts them to the back of the pack, and Racers get down and dirty in a pile of frigid mud.