'The Amazing Race' ousts Lucas Bocanegra and Brittany Austin before Henry Zhang and Evan Lynyak survive non-elimination leg

The Amazing Race eliminated Lucas Bocanegra and Brittany Austin and then featured a non-elimination leg during Wednesday night's two-hour episode on CBS.


"Newly-Engaged Couple and Lifeguards" Lucas and Brittany became the seventh team ousted from the around-the-world competition after arriving in the Kingdom of Bahrain -- a Middle Eastern country never visited on The Amazing Race -- in last place.

The Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan did not force the pair to complete any of the leg's tasks since they were so far behind.

The reason for Lucas and Brittany's last-place finish was because Lucas had lost his passport. By the time the couple managed to obtain a temporary passport and travel to Bahrain, they were hours behind the other teams.

Lucas felt he had let down his family, friends and Brittany, but his new fiancee said she couldn't have asked for a better partner in the Race.


"He's the main reason I'm here and I love him. And I said no matter what happens, it's him and me, and nothing else matters," Brittany told Phil following her team's ouster.

Lucas added, "We had some amazing experiences and we get to spend the rest of our lives with each other now."

The Amazing Race broadcast began with Lucas and Brittany departing the Pit Stop in Zimbabwe in first place at 8:41AM. They were then followed by "Retired Professional Skiers and Friends" Kristi Leskinen and Jen Hudak at 8:46AM and then "Friends and IndyCar Drivers" Alex Rossi and Conor Daly at 9:05AM.

Behind Alex and Conor were "Dating Couple and Yale Debating Teammates" Henry Zhang and Evan Lynyak at 9:24AM and finally "Dating Couple and former Big Brother Houseguests" Jessica Graf and Cody Nickson at 9:35AM.

The teams were instructed to fly over 3,000 miles to the Kingdom of Bahrain and pick up cars at the airport. All teams got on the same flight that had a connection in Dubai.


Once in Dubai, Lucas realized his passport was missing and he probably left it on the plane. His passport, however, was not found, and Lucas admitted he always forgets things and it was definitely his fault. Brittany kindly said it was a mistake anyone could have made.

Jessica told the other teams that "karma was kicking in," and Alex and Conor joked that her comment was "cold."

While all the teams took off for Bahrain, Lucas and Brittany were stuck at the airport, but they eventually managed to obtain an expedited temporary passport so Lucas could continue on in the Race.

Upon landing in Bahrain, the teams had to drive themselves to the Dhow Shipyard and carry heavy timber under the hot sun across a construction site to a scale, where they must weigh out 300 pounds.

Kristi and Jen were surprised they beat Alex and Conor and finished the task in first place. Since they got lost on their way to the shipyard, Cody and Jessica finished the task in last place.


The teams then had to sample a local treat called King of Halwa at the Showaiter Sweets store. Afterward, they made their way to Deleon Pottery Industry.

Most of the teams had navigational difficulties in this leg, but Jessica and Cody arrived at the pottery place first. They were then followed by Kristi and Jen, Henry and Evan, and finally Alex and Conor.

At the Pottery place, the teams had to use their memory skills to find a series of items hidden inside hundreds of clay pots that covered the grounds of this village. The task was tedious, and the teams needed to pay attention to detail, as multiple items would look similar.

Henry and Evan struggled to find one item, so Alex and Conor were able to pass them on their way to the Bahrain Endurance Village.

But the Top 2 teams got lost on their way to this village, so Alex and Conor hopped into first place.


The teams were then instructed to milk a camel and fill an entire cup with its milk. Alex and Conor finished in first place, and they were followed by Kristi and Jen, Henry and Evan, and finally Jessica and Cody. (And Cody drank the milk!)

The teams' next set of clues sent them to the Tree of Life, which survives in the desert despite the nearest water source being two miles away.

Alex and Conor finished the leg before any of the other teams and won $7,500 each. Kristi and Jen claimed second place, and Henry and Evan finished third. Jessica and Cody placed fourth.

Hours later, when night fell, Phil met Lucas and Brittany and informed them that they had been eliminated from the Race. Lucas and Brittany were not shown attempting any of the tasks, but Phil congratulated the pair on their "tenacity."

In the ninth leg of The Amazing Race's 30th season, the teams traveled over 3,000 miles again to Chiang Mai, Thailand. Alex and Conor started the leg off at 10:18AM, and Jessica and Cody were a little over an hour behind them.


The teams proceeded to Royal Park Rajapruek, where they must search for their next clue in a herd of white elephant statues.

The teams then had to find a woman with a parasol in the Royal Park to present garland to. Jessica and Cody remained in last place at this point, but their fast vehicle ended up passing Henry and Evan on the street as well as Kristi and Jen.

It then became time for the teams to complete one of two possible Detour tasks: "Size It" or "Seize It."

"Size It" required the teams to take height and weight measurements of a rescue elephant and then ride it down a trail to their next clue.

"Seize it" required the teams to catch 20 large frogs in a pond.

Since they're good with numbers, the Yale team attempted to size up the elephants, but everyone else opted to catch frogs.


Once Kristi and Jen realized how difficult it was going to be to catch frogs, however, they quickly changed Detours and headed in the direction of the elephants.

Being a former Marine, Cody had no problem at all scooping up the frogs, and Jessica, Alex, and Conor were very impressed with his ability to get the job done. It took Alex and Conor, on the other hand, a while to get the hang of it.

Meanwhile, Evan had difficulty taking measurements because her elephant wouldn't stay still. It took numerous attempts for Henry and Evan to get the right numbers.

Cody and Jessica therefore completed the Detour in first place, and they were then followed by Alex and Conor, Kristi and Jen -- who couldn't believe they passed Yale in the numbers task -- and finally Henry and Evan, who failed to get their measurements right on the first or second try.

The teams' next set of clues told them to proceed to the original Khantoke Restaurant and search outside for their next clue. Alex and Conor got there first and then it became time for a Roadblock task. Cody and Jessica got there second.

For the Roadblock, the participating Racers had to eat three scorpions and one frog while several scorpions crawled all over their teammates.


Without knowing what the task really entailed, Alex, Cody, Jen and Evan all opted to eat. Jessica was terrified with the scorpions on her body, but no one really struggled to chew and swallow the local delicacies.

Alex and Conor finished the Roadblock in first place, while Henry and Evan left the task in last place.

Teams then made their way to the Pit Stop, a beautiful temple called Wat Chedi Luang, where Buddhists practice meditation.

Alex and Conor were on a roll and stepped on the Pit Stop mat in first place, winning a trip for two to Curacao in the Caribbean. Jessica and Cody arrived only seconds after then, and then Kristi and Jen completed the leg in third place.

Although Henry and Evan met Phil in fourth -- and last -- place, Phil revealed it was a non-elimination leg. As a consequence, however, Henry and Evan will need to complete a Speed Bump task in the next leg.

"The other teams underestimate the threat that we pose if we make it to the next leg," Evan told the cameras.


The Amazing Race's Season 30 finale airs next week!






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski