Standings Before Episode 9

Episode 8 Dustin & Kandice in first place David & Mary Eliminated Dustin & Kandice: (Team Number 1) And the Beauties do it again! I mean, I don't think it was necessary to stick another team with the car that they dented up last episode, but other than that these two are just on the ball and outperforming all of the other teams. Sure, they could be nicer... but if they win they'll be enjoying their money long after they've forgotten the names of the rest of the racers. But they did get to feel a bit of a sting when they suddenly were required to depend on someone else, and they realized that no one wanted to work with them. An olive leaf here and there wouldn't kill you now, would it girls? Tyler & James: (Team Number 2) Honestly, I still can't tell these two apart. But one of them is truly useless with reading maps and giving directions... and given the fact that they are in a race, that is something he might want to have brushed up on before this whole adventure. These guys were a bit too smug on the Fast Forward, and if they were any more casual they might have showed up at the Pit Stop behind all of the other teams. I keep hoping these two will kind of get scared straight from finishing so awkwardly each week. But when they always have other teams finishing behind them, I can understand why they don't feel the need to change their approach too much. Rob & Kimberly: (Team Number 3) Wait a minute. Was this a bicker-free episode? I think maybe it was! Now that's hard to believe. Of course, these two always behave better when there are others watching them. They don't want to appear bitter and ugly... but I guess they should have thought of that before they agreed to having a cameraman with them 24/7 capturing everything they do and say and broadcasting it on national television. Well, whatever the reason, they played very nice this week and it was good to see them getting along. Now if they could only maintain that, they might stay in the running for the big check at the end. Erwin & Godwin: (Team Number 4) They nice guys didn't finish first, but they didn't finish last either. Given the fact that the other teams that they've allied themselves with just aren't that good, they've been able offer as much help as possible, and yet still almost be guaranteed that one other team will be finishing behind them. But they genuinely seem to be good guys, and it's refreshing to see a team that is completely devoted to the spirit of this race and less concerned about the outcome. I just hope that if they end up being the last of their alliance to survive, that they'll just put their game faces on and put all their energy into just blazing through the rest of the race. Lyn & Karlyn: (Team Number 5) These two, on the other hand, don't seem to be enjoying themselves at all. They're sticking with it, and doing better than I thought, but it all seems to be such a chore to them. I get the impression they secretly wish to get eliminated soon, so they can be put out of their misery but not look like quitters. Well they may get their wish soon, because they just don't seem to have the fire that the rest of the teams do. And I think that will keep them in the back of the pack until they are eliminated.