In the fourth episode of Season 37 of The Amazing Race, which aired on March 26, 2025, friends Bernie Gutierrez and Carrigain Scadden faced elimination after finishing last at the Pit Stop. Reflecting on their journey, they attributed their departure largely to the actions of fellow contestants Jonathan and Ana Towns. The pivotal ‘Driver’s Seat’ twist introduced a new dynamic that played a critical role in their fate.
Understanding the ‘Driver’s Seat’ Twist
Under the ‘Driver’s Seat’ twist, the first team to reach the Roadblock gained the authority to assign task difficulty to the other teams. Jonathan and Ana opted for the least challenging task—threshing 15 pounds of rice—for themselves while leveraging their Express Pass to bypass the task entirely. This left Bernie and Carrigain to tackle a far more strenuous challenge, which involved threshing 25 pounds of rice.
Carrigain expressed her strong belief that this decision was “1,000 percent” the reason they were eliminated.
“I don’t hold it against them because [maybe] they didn’t have a game plan going into it. But, you could have made better decisions having both the Driver’s Seat and the Express Pass,” she stated.
Impact of the Roadblock Task on Mental Fortitude
The strategic advantage provided to Jonathan and Ana significantly impacted Bernie and Carrigain, especially considering their prior struggles in the competition. After the Roadblock, where they faced the considerable burden assigned to them, Ana later voiced regret about their tactical decisions, although Bernie questioned the sincerity of her remorse. He noted:
“Even if it was mental… maybe Carrigain seeing the 15 instead of 25 mentally would have allowed her to say, ‘We got this.'”
Carrigain echoed Bernie’s sentiments by commenting on her feelings of isolation during the challenge:
“I don’t know the time, but when all the teams left and I was there by myself, it felt very alienating.”
Enduring extreme heat and pressure, Carrigain struggled with maintaining a positive outlook. “It felt really challenging to be positive. The sun was relentless, and I felt my back was against the wall,” she reflected.
Navigating the Detour and Coordination Challenges
Their difficulties were compounded after the Roadblock, as they navigated in the wrong direction for what felt like three miles, leading to further delays at the Penjor station where they needed to decorate a bamboo pole as part of the Detour. Their earlier stumble impacted their overall performance in the race.
“We actually work very well together. That’s why I picked Carrigain. She understands that I’m stubborn,” Bernie explained.
Despite their strong teamwork, the competitive pressure strained their collaboration. Carrigain noted the shifting of roles during the challenge:
“I was supposed to do the rice, and I was too tired to navigate. Then it was really hard for us to come back and work together,” she admitted.
The intense pressure led to a disconnect in their communication and strategy, making it challenging to regroup effectively. Overwhelmed by both mental and physical exhaustion, they struggled to catch up to the other teams. Nonetheless, they remembered some joyful moments along the way:
“Driving the ATV through waterfalls in Bali — that was the best experience ever,” Bernie reminisced.
Though their journey on The Amazing Race concluded after just four legs, the experience fostered an unbreakable bond between Bernie and Carrigain, creating cherished memories that will last a lifetime.
Catch new episodes of The Amazing Race every Wednesday on CBS.