The seventh episode of The Great Food Truck Race Season 18 featured one of the series' closest eliminations. Three teams competed in Newport News, Virginia, confronting concealed camera surveillance, weather problems, and fierce rivalry.
The episode featured secret judging by host Tyler Florence, who watched teams through surveillance cameras before revealing himself. Teams also competed in an oyster preparation challenge judged by Food Network's Aarti Sequeira.
Despite smashing a series record with approximately $35,000 in total sales over two days, one team's trip ended tragically close to the conclusion. The Great Food Truck Race puts mobile restaurant teams against each other throughout America, with each episode removing the truck with the lowest earnings. Teams must deal with cooking obstacles, local ingredients, and tight timelines while serving actual clients. Only the strongest will advance to fight for the $50,000 main prize and the title of America's finest food truck.
Cooking with Que meets with elimination
Cooking with Que became the seventh team eliminated from Season 18. They missed the finale by just $258, one of the smallest margins in show history. The team earned $10,822 during the Newport News challenge, falling short against Good Fortune ($12,290) and Nishaan ($11,080). Their departure left viewers stunned, as the race remained tight throughout the episode.
Tyler Florence introduced an unprecedented twist at the episode's start. Instead of announcing a traditional challenge, he secretly observed each team through hidden cameras. The surveillance focused on prep work, teamwork, and service efficiency. Good Fortune impressed with their organized approach, earning $300 for their strong performance. Cooking with Que struggled during this phase, losing the challenge and facing a one-hour shutdown penalty. The lost hour proved costly, removing precious selling time when every minute counted toward final sales totals.
Day two brought additional obstacles as bad weather slowed initial sales. Local customers still showed up despite the conditions, bringing umbrellas and determination to support the trucks. The main challenge centered on Chesapeake oysters, with Food Network chef Aarti Sequeira serving as judge. Each team created unique oyster dishes showcasing local flavors. Nishaan delivered bold tastes but may have overwhelmed the oyster's natural flavor.
Good Fortune's dish contained shell fragments, hurting their presentation. Cooking with Que impressed Sequeira with their preparation, earning another $300 boost to their daily total.
How did the sales go during this episode of The Great Food Truck Race?
The three remaining teams on The Great Food Truck Race achieved something remarkable despite the competitive pressure. Combined sales reached nearly $35,000 across two days, setting a new series record. Individual performances remained incredibly close, with less than $1,500 separating first and third place. Good Fortune led with consistent sales and strong challenge performance. Nishaan maintained steady numbers throughout both days. Cooking with Que kept pace but couldn't overcome their early setbacks.
The elimination on The Great Food Truck Race came down to raw numbers, with emotions running high. Cooking with Que's exit felt particularly painful given the narrow margin. They demonstrated skill, determination, and growth throughout the season. The team's departure leaves Good Fortune and Nishaan to compete for the championship. Both remaining trucks showed different strengths during the Newport News leg, setting up an intriguing finale matchup.
The episode highlighted how small moments can determine success in competitive cooking. One challenge loss, one hour of downtime, or one service mistake can end a team's dreams. Season 18's finale promises an exciting conclusion between two well-matched competitors.
You can watch The Great Food Truck Race on Sundays at 8/7c on Food Network, with streaming available on Discovery+.