**The Thrill of Car Wars**

As we stepped onto the track, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nerves. My teammate Nolan was struggling to keep up with Gus's smooth driving skills, and our chances of winning depended on his performance. The crowd cheered as we began the final lap, and I shouted encouragement to Nolan, urging him to stick to the left like Gus had done.

The starting lineup consisted of four of us: James, Zach, Nolan, and me, Joe. As we navigated through the maze-like track, our drivers expertly dodged cones and made precise turns. But for Nolan, it was a different story. He stumbled out of the gate, hitting only 12 cones before the halfway mark. I winced as he struggled to catch up, my stomach doing flips with worry.

But then something magical happened. Nolan suddenly found his rhythm, smoothly navigating through the course and hitting cone after cone. The crowd erupted in cheers as he approached the finish line, and I couldn't help but join in on the celebration. Gus, our teammate, was thrilled too, congratulating me on my good start (I had managed to hit 7 cones out of 10) while acknowledging Nolan's improved performance.

As we crossed the finish line, our scores were tallied up: Gus and Nolan had a combined total of 74 points, Zach and James lagging behind with 99. But for Gus, it was still an A-plus effort, thanks to his smooth driving skills and ability to stay focused under pressure. Meanwhile, I couldn't help but think about the what-ifs – if the roles were reversed, we would have won handily.

**The Car: Optima SX Turbo**

After our on-track battle, we took a moment to appreciate the sleek design of our trusty car, the 2020 Optima SX turbo. Under its hood, this beast of a sedan packs a punch with its 2-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 245 horsepower and 260 pounds of torque. Whether cruising down the highway or tackling twisty roads like ours, this car is sure to put a smile on your face.

The interior of our Optima SX was just as impressive as its exterior design. The heated and ventilated power seats were a welcome treat on chilly days, while the panoramic sunroof allowed us to soak up the sunshine. We also had access to cool features like wireless charging for our phones, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. And when safety is a top priority, this car has got you covered with blindspot detection, forward collision avoidance assist with pedestrian detection, and lane keep assist.

**The Partnership: Kia**

We couldn't have done it without the support of our partner, Kia. Their Optima SX turbo was more than just a ride – it was a key to our success on the track. With its sleek design, agile handling, and impressive list of features, this car helped us navigate today's crazy roads with confidence.

**The Hosts' Antics**

As we wrapped up the competition, I couldn't resist teasing my teammate Gus about his driving skills. "I'm gonna take a little dinker like that," I joked, trying to make him laugh. Meanwhile, Gus playfully shot back, saying he'd show me who's boss on the track.

**The Post-Race Shenanigans**

As we walked away from the finish line, I was greeted with a surprise – the "holy gloves" for our next racing adventure. It was a lighthearted moment, one that reminded us all to keep smiling and having fun in the world of Car Wars.

**Final Thoughts**

As the dust settled on another thrilling episode of Car Wars, I couldn't help but reflect on what made this competition so special. For me, it was the camaraderie with my teammates, the rush of adrenaline as we hurtled towards the finish line, and of course, the stunning performance of our trusty Optima SX turbo.

But most of all, I think it's the memories we create along the way – the laughter, the cheers, the occasional wipeout – that make Car Wars truly unforgettable.

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- Yeah!- Yeah!- Yeah!- Yeah!- Oh my God, I'm screwed.(laughing)- Oh beep.- You gotsomething under your car.- If we bring the cone withus, it doesn't count right?- I have a question.How do you win, when everyoneis going the same speed?- What do you mean?- Cruise control.- That does sound fun,that sounds fun.- No!- You're so right.- This,- is Car Wars!- I forgot, I forgot to say it.- Oh my God.- We are super excitedabout our guest todaybecause he's legitimatelyone of the funniest dudeson the internet.A big round of applause, even at home,for our guest today, Gus Johnson.(applauding)- Wow, we truly are out here.- As always, today's challenge isfairly simple, Nolan.- As usual, we're gonnasplit into two teams.Each driver will do three lapswith the cruise controlset to 20 miles an hour,and you're gonna try to avoid some cones,in the first lap, the coneswill be worth one point.Second lap, two points,third lap, three points.The team with the mostpoints at the end, loses,and thus, gets the punishment.(dramatic music)- What is it?- The punishment?- What is it?- We have a new punishment for today.I actually don't knowwhat's in this box, ooh.- Is that the death chip or whatever?- It's the death chip again.- What the hell (laughs).- This is a very, very spicy chip,made with Carolina Reaper Peppers.- It's not just a very spicy chip, Nolan.- It's the spiciest.- It's the hottest chipin the world.(dramatic music)AHHH!Now let's go take a lookat what I'm sure is aterribly difficult course,that our producers havecome up with for us.(dramatic music)- The cruisecontrol challenge isnot a game of speed,but a game of precision.The objective is to navigatethe course while knocking overas few cones as possible.First, drivers must use the open skid padto set their cruise controlto 20 miles per hour.The course begins witha large sweeping right,followed by a short left,and down a tight straight.This path continues into a large opening,before entering, the maze.In the maze, there area multitude of routesand various lines for thedrivers to chose from.The maze exits into another openingwhere the drivers will line upand enter the final sectorof the course, the joker.Drivers will have to makea choice between two paths,to the right, a wide openstraight that ends withan unavoidable row of cones.To the left, a riskier, morenarrow, cone packed curve,that will put the driversskill to the test.The two routes merge backtogether for the final straight,and across the finish line.- Going in to the third challenge,having eaten two chips and lost twice,I hope that luck is on our side today.- I'm really excited, itlooks pretty difficult but,that's what we're here for,here for a challenge, play to win.Right, Gus?- Yeah, we'll do it up.- I literally googled, canyou eat Carolina Reapersfour days in a row, and not be hurt.- What did you find?- Not much.(gong ringing)(slow drumming)- Let's go show these nerds how to do it.- Oh, they're coming through the approach.- This is them getting up to speed, right?- All right, we're at 20.- That is way faster thanI thought it was gonna be.- Into the course they go.- That is so quick.- Whew!- Oh, oh!- That's good.- Damn, that was a tight turn.- Whew, that's a turn.Aw, this ones tough, up here dude.This one is tight.- Yeah, yeah, but.- They haven't hit anything yet.- No, they're good.- Into the maze, oh (beep) (laughing).- I was looking in the rear view to seeif I ran anything over.- Yeah, don't do that.- Oh god.- To the right, that's fine.I wish I would've gone to the left.- Oh, that's a turn, all right, Zach.- Are they just gonna bite the bulletand just go through this?- Yeah, looks like it.- Damn, that's a good strategy.- I'm plowin'(crash)(laughing)- Four.- Jeez, that was really good.- Wow.- You did a great job, dude.- Hey, thanks.- You did, barely knocked down any.- Dude, I'm nervous now,I'm gonna be real with you.(laughing)That was a good, you setthe bar high on that one.- I actually, my favorite partwas running over the cones.- Nice!(laughing)- That I am, a little shook,I'm not gonna be honest.- Yeah, dude that was--- I'm gonna be honest.- I'm gonna lie straight to you.- I'm not gonna lie toyou, I'm feelin' shook.- Predictions for Gus?- 10, at least.- This is the most nervousI've been in a long time, honestly.I'm on 20, here we go.Is it on the right?- Yeah, it's the one--- Probably a bad time to ask.(laughing)All right, here we go,we got it, we got it.- All right.(upbeat music)- Solid start.- Oh oh oh.- There ya go, there ya go, there ya go.- There we go.- Good good good,good job Gus.- Nice.- Dude, I feel like I'm takinga driving test right now.- Whoa, really tidy.- Into the maze, let's see what he does.- Where the, ooh- Right here?- Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.- Ease him out, ease him out.(laughing)- Boom baby!- That might be the move.- Yeah, go to the right.- Yup.- (beep) it, we're going for it!- Yeah!- Yeah!- Yeah- Yeah!- Guts glory baby!- Let's go Gus!- Here we go, here we go.- You're good buddy!- Yes!- Oh my God, look at him go.- She took--aw, dang it no!(laughing)No!- Oh yeah I did five.- You did five- Holy (beep)- Oh my God.- Whoo!- Whoo!- Well that was, amazing dude.- Dude that was terrifying, holy.- That was so good.- What'd you guys have, four?- Five.- Five.- Okay, down to the wire.- You're in the, the top spot.- Whew, here we go.- Playing to the boys.- James is now behind the wheel.- And just the course all floor it.- (laughs) No problem.(whip cracking)- Oo!.- Just be smooth.- That's onecone already for James.- Dang.- Perfect.- So weird over here.- Hug the left, hug the left.- All right- he's gonna gofor the same route?- No, he just wentstraight through it looks like.- Okay, okay, he went for that--- So he went all the way around.- He just stayed right.- Oh, oh!- I think we might end upeating another chip today.(laughing)- James is gonna do--- Is he gonna go for it?He's gonna go for it--- No!He chickens out.- He goes for the wide boy.- See if you can just get one.(laughing)- Oh God, oh God.(whip cracking)- Did I knock any down back there?- a few.- That's fun!- That is so fun.- Nolan hopping in?- Yeah.- All right.- Wrong car, Nolan.- Oh.- All right, do you feel nervous?- A little bit, yeah.- Honestly, I'm like whydo I feel so nervous.(laughing)- Don't mess up Nolan.(dramatic music)- Don't hit any cones, bud.(cone thudding)- (beep), that's a cone.- Watch the cones, Nolan.Watch out for that cone, Nolan.- Cut him off.- Whoa this is--- Whoa, right over here.- Yup.- Okay, great.(laughing)(whip cracking)- oh (beep)!- Cone?- Gonna be tight man.- Going for it, man.- Ooh.(whips cracking)that's a lot of cones.- Five, six.- I think we just took the lead back.- Seven.- Not my best, work, if I'm being honest.- These aren'tleague standard cones.- They are.- They're thicker!- I know it!- That's BS.- Well then, what's the count?What's the--- Officially it's eight right now.- Ooh.Not a good start.- I feel good about the first round,it's still super, super close.I think both teams have agreat chance of winning.- What are the scores currently?- Score--- nine to 12?- Nine to 12.That could be decided,anywhere.- James' fault.(gong ringing)- Round two!Each cone is now worth two points.They've narrowed some of the sections,they've tweaked the maze, andthey've added another coneto the easy route, in the jokers section.- Let's get it!- Is get it.(laughing)- Baby, I'm ready.- Aw baby.- These guys were hazingus last time, on the radio.Bush league play, I'm just gonna say it.So I've got to return the favor this time.- Okay.- Drivers, be on thelook out for an elderly male,age 76, on the track, wearing all beige.He's hurling hard candies onto the track,so just keep an eye out.(laughing)- Go to channel five.(laughing)(whip cracking)Took a cone down there.(tires screeching)- Turned it off.- Oh, turned it off.- What's the protocol if we,if the cruise control turns off?- Redo the lap and all thecones that you hit stay down.(dramatic music)- They're doing a redo because theircruise control turned off.- All right, here we go.Let's try to be smoother.- Yah, yah.Smooth, nice.- Very smooth.- Oh (beep) (beep)- Oh, damn, dude, they'regonna go left right away.- No no no(popping)will they stay up?- Aw, I think I took two down.- Damn.- That was pretty good.- Hey thanks.- Yeah, well it wasn't a complement,I was just kinda gettin' it out there.(laughing)- that's the sameas a complement.- Your taking it as one,your taking it as one.- This is it.This is the US againstthe USSR in the olympics.Same tier right here.- All right here we go.- We're good?- I was really hoping Gus would show upand just be terrible at this.- Suck, yeah.- Nerve racking right now.- I got this.- Oh (beep) (laughing)oh no, oh no,that's all right, well take this one,I'm taking the one in the middle.- Okay.- Okay, coming to the joker.- This could be good for us.- He's in the tight bit, was that a cone?Maybe not.(crashing)- Oh shoot!- Oh, that felt likemultiple cones!- You can't avoid it!- That puts them at 20 to 19- 20 19, whoo hoo?- We're still ahead by a hair.- It is way to close for comfort man.It is a tense boy.I just gotta keep my cool.- Gus is a great precisiondriver, I'm very,very happy right now,this is going great.- I was banging, it's that,this whole ass week GTA five baby.(laughing)I was following pedestrianrules and everything.(whip cracking)- Yep yep yep.(whip cracking)- This is our cashmoney, round here, okay.They're gonna hit like seven cones.(whip cracking)- Hey, shit, hey.(laughing)- Aw, they're bumping, he's nervous now.- Keep it tight.(whip cracking)Not bad.- Yes!No!That was so many!(chuckling)- That was not a great run.Lost my composure at the end a little bit.- Dude, that really, I'mfeeling really good about that.- I'm feeling good.- Again, not to justrevel in other people's(laughing)shortcomings, but, ooh, we needed that.- Yeah, we did that was a good break.- What did they get, how many cones?- Seven.- Ooh.I called it, I said seven cones.- You did, that's weird.Come on guys, I don't soundlike that, we know that, gosh.(laughing)- I got so muchadrenaline in me right now man.- I know, I can tell man.- I feel like I'm inhigh school football again.- What position did you play?- I was the quarterback,I was just terrible.- What, no way.- I was terrible at it.- I was a center.- Really.- We had such a smallschool, I was the quarterbackand the left linebacker.And I did not deserve to bethere I was about a 160 poundsin high school and I'd get my ass kicked.- I might offer Nolan a thousand dollarsto take out 10 cones in the last round.- Oh fantastic, dude, that's fantastic.- God, can't you just,just screw up Nolan.Just quit.- Perfect little boy.- That's okay, didn't need it.- Should I go gamble?- I almost wouldn't.I don't know--- Okay, let's go easy,let's go easy.- Okay, okay.(cones smacking)(cone dragging)(cones snapping)- Ugh.- We got a scraper!(laughing)how is she gonna land?- It's not going anywhere.Stop- I'd say...(thudding)- Whoah.- That's BS!- You kicked it, you interfered with it.- That was a (beep) move by him,I'm gonna say that right now.- What did we get?- Six.- Dang, six, okay.- Zach and James,33, Nolan and Gus, 32.- Okay.- Woo, guys.- Whew, fun game, this is a super fun--- If I didn't have anxiety issues.(gong ringing)(techno music)- It's the third and final round.It all comes down to this.Each cone is now worth threepoints and on top of everythingin this round, we gotta do it alone.No partners.I'm so tense, I'm gonna get an ulcer.I don't know if it's because I'm nervous,or because I had toeat two of those chips.- It's probably the chips.- But I don't wanna eat another one.- Solo round, baby.- Let's get, let's get it over with.(intense music)are we ready folks?- Are you ready for the chip?- No, (laughing) no.Dude, I believe in you.- This for you.- You got this.You're my brother.- You're my brother.I love you!- Love you!- What do you thinkZach's thinking right now?- I bet he'sthinking, don't hit any cones.- I would probably think thatif I were in his position.- If I we're him, that'sprobably what I'd be thinking.- I feel like, they're probablygonna make it impossible.(dramatic music)- Okay.- One down.- Okay, okay, okay.(crashing)- Ooh, okay.- All right, we'reabout to be in the maze.(crashing)- Three.- I think they madesome things too narrow.- Whoa whoa.- Let's see if he's gonna gamble,or just knock 'em all downI think he's gonna--- I think you gotta gamble- You have to gamble- Home stretch dude,he's cleaning house here.- Oh he's gambling,he's gambling.- Taking the hard line.- Very smooth and tightthrough there, well done.- Ooh, okay okay, (beep).- Is that four?Five?Four?- Eight.- Eight.- Eight?That's way worse than five.Eight!- I'm not even in thespirit of talking trash,this is the most difficult one so far.- Yeah.- Nolan, of course, takes the high road,I am in the spirit of talking trash,you guys are human garbage.(dramatic music)- Yeah, I'm feeling good aboutthis, I'm not gonna lie boys.We're two for two on the day here.- Gus is cool, man.- Yeah, your teammate's cool.- I love Nolan for who heis, he's a beautiful soul,he has not brought his a game today,I'm gonna be real with y'all, okay.I'm gonna carry this team,my back's gonna be aching tonight.- Dude he's really good.- He's really good- He's the best at this game.- Yeah, he's the best,he's really good man.- I have full confidencein my abilities here.- I'm very confidentin Gus, he's really good.Ooh, smooth dude, this guy is smooth.- Come on Gus.- Ooh!- Gotta focus, can't look back.(gun shots)- Ah, crap dude, I'm wrecking it here.- Dude.- Okay, two cones, two cones.- No, I miss Nolan.- Come on Gus, you got it bud.- All right, all right, we got this.(suspenceful music)- Ooh, that could've broken,I think he killed cruise control.- Aw, yeah.- You kill cruise control?- I killed cruise.All right fellas and ladiesback home, I gotta go again herehonestly that might bethe game right there.I just killed too many coneson the first part here, so.(belching) excuse me.(inspirational music)- Here we go.- He is through the main section,through the first base--- He didn't knock anything down.- Nice and clean.- Oh, he's just going casual.- Yes, yes Gus!- I gotta go skinny again, I gotta do it.- Dude, he's gonna do better, than he did.- Oh my gosh, this is(beep), come on buddy.- Are you--- Come on buddy.Come on buddy.- No...(cheering)- A perfect lap,oh my God, dude.- 57 to 53, sothey have 53 you have 57.So they're in lead bytwo cones essentially.- Two cones, okay, we can get this.- I'm feeling the James choke right here,that's gonna give ussome good wiggle room.- Let me go ahead and dedicatethe win to my dead dad.If I win know I just don'twanna let down my dead dad.(laughing)- I wanna crush him.- Does he think it will bring him back?(laughing)- This is so tense.- Dude, I'm legitimately more nervousthan I've been in a whole year right now.Very serious.- All right James.If I ever needed you.(tense music)- Dang it!- Okay guys, good good.- All right, first gate.- I am not--- Whoa!- That's my boy.- Crumbling, crumbling.- that's my boy.- Easy--- Two, three, oh he's sliding, four!- Game.- This is it dude.- Oh no.- He's choking, he wentthe bad way there too.- Come on, James.- He's gonna go for the, for the--- Come on, James!- Yes, he's going hard now.- Come on, James!(crashing)- Oh dude, he got so many of them.- Ahh.(giggling)- Yes!- Oh (beep)(laughing)- I shoulda just gone through there.Oh no, that wasn't very good.- What did they say, 14 on that?- It was 14 right, 14 cones?- Yep.- Okay.- Nolan, I'm not even worrieddude, don't even worry.Come over here.I'm actually extraordinarilyworried about my teammateNolan's performance hereon the final lap here.- Gus is really, really good at this.So, I just gotta be as good as Gus.He needs to hit 16 and then we loose?- Yeah.- By a point, I believe.- Okay.It's a wide margin orerror, I am very scared.- I'm nervous not gonna lie.That looks good.(crunching)- Oh (beep), Nolan, one two.- Terrible start, I love that.- Stick to the left, like Gus did.Stick to the left.Hit another one that's fine.Not a good start for Nolster.- And just 12 more, Nolan.12 more cones.- Get lost in the maze, man.- Smoothly, through here.- Okay he's looking good in there.He's looking really good.- Really good.(crashing)- Ah.- He's at five.- Hit 10 more.- Just 11 more- Okay.- Hit 11 more, hit 11 more!- Okay yes.- Yes.(laughing)God!Whoo, baby.- God.I hate this!- Yes!- Joe!- That was good, you might'vegot like seven or so.That's perfect dude.- Good job, Nolan.- Seven?- Good job,Nolan, you did great man.- Yeah, good job bud- Good job bro.- That was really good.- Thanks.- Mouth ready?- I'll hear it again.- I'm gonna amputate my tongue.- If you've gotthe data in front of you.- Gus and Nolan had a score or 74 points,Zach and James, total of 99.- That's almost a hundred,we're under a hundred.- Stick to double digits.- That's an A plus, dude.- Yeah that's an A plus, dude.- I just wanna point outthat if it was opposite,then we would've won.- In any other game, we win.(laughing)- All right, this bringsme joy, there you go.- Here are the holy gloves for you.- Well James, we did it again.- I'm gonna take a little, just a little- I'm gonna try it, Gus, do you wanta little dinker like that.- I'll dink it.- Yeah, it's still really hot.- Cheers boys.- Cheers.- See you on the other side.- Big thanks to Kia formaking this series possibleand giving us theseawesome cars to battle in.Today we drove the 2020 Optima SX turbo.Under the hood it's got a two liter,turbo charged four cylinder.Putting out 245 horsepowerand 260 pounds of torque.That's a lot of scoot for your boot.It's easily the sleekest optima yet.It's got aggressive, yet refined styling,much like your boy and theSX rolls on 18 inch alloysand lights up the road withdual projector, LED headlights.And, this smart lookingsedan looks just as goodon the inside as it does on the outside.It has tons of cool features,like heated and ventilated power seats.A panoramic sunroof, a wirelesscharger for your phone,apple car play and android auto.This car is packed.The Optima SX helps younavigate today's crazy roads,it's equipped with blindspot detection,forward collision avoidance assist withpedestrian detection and lane keep assist.Thank you Kia for partnering with us.(crunching)- Wow, it taste terrible too.(coughing)- Thanks for watching Car Wars,make sure you comment, like and subscribe.I wanna give big thanks to Gus Johnson,check out his channel, he's awesome.I get excited every timehe puts on a new video.- Me too.- Be nice!- I love you.I love you.- Till next time.