Nine Teams Compete Across Eight Cities in Great Food Truck Race Season 18

Season 18 of Food Network's "The Great Food Truck Race," titled "Truckin’ Awesome," returns with nine teams competing for a $50,000 grand prize along an eight-city route up the Atlantic coast, starting in Savannah and finishing in New York. Hosted by Tyler Florence, the season kicks off with a banana-themed cooking challenge presented by the Savannah Bananas baseball team, setting an energetic tone with a surprising and dramatic elimination twist. Teams face diverse challenges and high-profile stops, including a NASCAR raceway, a busy beach boardwalk, and a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, with guest chefs Kardea Brown and Rodney Scott offering expertise along the way. The competition tests culinary creativity, sales skills, and strategy, with moments described as "jaw-dropping" by Florence, who highlights the show's impact on the food truck industry. The season premiere, airing August 3, showcases innovative dishes like banana-infused biscuits and banana steak fries, receiving positive reactions from the Bananas and customers. Ultimately, only one team will claim the title and prize after a high-stakes finale feeding sailors at Naval Station Norfolk.