What the Cannonball Run record actually is

The Cannonball Run is an unsanctioned cross-country race from New York City to Los Angeles, typically completed in a car on public highways. The record stands at 31 hours and 4 minutes, set in 2013 by a team driving a modified BMW. This is not a legal event—it violates speed limits, traffic laws, and vehicle codes across multiple states, and anyone attempting it would face serious criminal charges.

The run has captured public imagination since the 1970s, partly because of a 1981 film that glamorized the concept. But the gap between the movie and reality matters: the film was fiction. The actual record attempts involve federal crimes, felony charges in some states, and the genuine risk of killing yourself or someone else on the road.

Key Takeaways

  • The Cannonball Run record is an illegal cross-country race that violates speed limits and traffic laws in every state it crosses.
  • Attempting the run exposes you to felony charges, license suspension or revocation, and civil liability if you cause injury or death.
  • The vehicles used in record attempts are heavily modified with radar detectors, GPS systems, and communication equipment designed to evade law enforcement.
  • Your driver's license can be suspended or revoked permanently if you are convicted of reckless driving or vehicular crimes related to such an attempt.
  • Insurance will not cover damage or liability from illegal racing or reckless driving, leaving you personally responsible for all costs.

Why the record matters to your driving record and license

If you attempt the Cannonball Run or anything like it, you are not just breaking traffic laws—you are committing crimes that directly affect your ability to hold a driver's license. States treat extreme speeding and reckless driving differently depending on the circumstances and the state, but crossing state lines while fleeing law enforcement or driving at dangerous speeds can trigger federal charges.

A conviction for reckless driving, speeding 30+ mph over the limit, or evading police can result in license suspension ranging from 6 months to permanent revocation. Some states impose mandatory suspensions; others leave it to the judge. Either way, your license becomes a legal document that the state can take away, and getting it back—if you can—requires court approval and often a hearing.

Criminal charges you could face

The charges vary by state and by what happens during the drive, but they typically include speeding, reckless driving, and potentially felony charges if you endanger others or evade police. In some states, driving at extreme speeds with intent to set a record can be charged as reckless endangerment, which is a felony. If you cause an accident, injury, or death, the charges escalate to vehicular assault or vehicular homicide.

Federal charges are also possible if you cross state lines while committing traffic crimes or if you use communication devices to coordinate evasion of law enforcement. These charges carry prison time, not just fines. A felony conviction also affects your ability to work, travel, and vote—consequences that extend far beyond losing your license.

How insurance and liability work against you

Your auto insurance policy explicitly excludes coverage for illegal racing, reckless driving, and intentional violations of traffic law. If you cause an accident during a Cannonball Run attempt, your insurance company will deny your claim. You become personally liable for all damage to other vehicles, property, medical bills, and lost wages—potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The other driver or their insurance company can sue you directly. If someone is injured or killed, you could face a civil judgment that follows you for years, including wage garnishment and asset seizure. This liability exists even if you are not convicted of a crime, because civil courts use a lower standard of proof than criminal courts.

What happens to your license after a conviction

License suspension is automatic in most states after a reckless driving or extreme speeding conviction. The length depends on the offense and your driving history. A first offense might result in a 6-month to 1-year suspension; repeat offenses or felony convictions can lead to permanent revocation.

To get your license back after revocation, you typically must petition the court, pay reinstatement fees (usually $100 to $500), and sometimes complete a defensive driving course or substance abuse program—even if neither applies to your case. Some states require you to maintain SR-22 insurance for three years after reinstatement, which costs significantly more than standard coverage. During the suspension or revocation period, driving without a license is itself a crime.

Why the vehicles used in record attempts are modified

The cars used in Cannonball Run records are equipped with radar detectors, GPS systems with real-time traffic and law enforcement data, communication systems to coordinate with spotters, and sometimes engine modifications to increase speed and fuel efficiency. These modifications are not about performance—they are about evading detection and arrest.

Possessing or using a radar detector is illegal in some states and in all commercial vehicles. Installing hidden communication systems or GPS jammers can trigger additional federal charges under the Communications Act. The modifications themselves become evidence in a criminal case and can result in vehicle impoundment and forfeiture.

The difference between a speeding ticket and a reckless driving charge

A speeding ticket is a traffic violation that costs money and adds points to your license. Reckless driving is a criminal charge. The distinction matters enormously for your record and your future. Speeding 10 mph over the limit is a ticket. Speeding 40 mph over the limit, especially across multiple states, is reckless driving—a misdemeanor or felony depending on the state.

Reckless driving convictions appear on background checks for employment, housing, and professional licensing. A single conviction can disqualify you from jobs in transportation, security, education, and healthcare. The criminal record is permanent unless you later petition for expungement, which is not may provide and varies by state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you actually get away with the Cannonball Run?

Historically, some attempts have avoided arrest during the drive, but most have been caught or identified afterward through vehicle tracking, toll records, or witness reports. Modern surveillance—traffic cameras, license plate readers, cell phone tracking—makes it far harder to cross the country undetected than it was in the 1970s. Even if you avoid arrest during the drive, law enforcement can identify you later.

What if you don't cause an accident or hurt anyone?

The crime is the reckless driving itself, not the outcome. You can be charged and convicted of reckless driving without hitting anyone. The fact that you got lucky does not change the legal liability or the danger you created for other drivers. Prosecutors do not need an accident to prove the offense.

Would your insurance cover damage if you were not caught?

No. Insurance companies investigate accidents and can deny claims if they discover you were driving recklessly or illegally at the time. They have access to police reports, traffic camera footage, and witness statements. Lying to your insurance company about the circumstances is insurance fraud, which is a separate crime.

Can you get your license back after a revocation?

Yes, but it requires a court petition, reinstatement fees, and often completion of additional requirements. The process takes months and is not may provide. Some states impose waiting periods before you can even petition. If your license is revoked a second time, the waiting period and requirements become much stricter.

What is the actual record, and who holds it?

The fastest documented time is 31 hours and 4 minutes, set in 2013 by a team in a modified BMW. However, there is no official governing body for the Cannonball Run, so "record" is informal and based on claims made by drivers. Some attempts are never publicly confirmed. The record has been challenged multiple times, but verification is difficult because the event is illegal.