Ericka Dunlap

Twelve Teams stand at the start line in Los Angeles, Calif., but only 11 will make the journey to Tokyo, Japan as the Racers are faced with a heart-breaking surprise elimination.

Teams struggle to combat the hectic pace of Vietnam and one Team puts their own Race in jeopardy by offering to help the competition.

A million dollars is at the final three teams' fingertips as they count out a maddening amount of poker chips and race to see "Mr. Las Vegas," who holds the final clue to the one million dollar prize.

Teams scramble to spot royalty in the jam-packed streets of Cambodia and one Team monkeys around and breaks the Race's cardinal rule by losing their passport.

One team musters up the courage to reveal a personal secret to the others, and another Racer breaks down in tears as the stress of the Race mounts.

The racers end up knee-deep in Estonian bogs, and two teams are neck and neck in their race to the pit stop.