The Amazing Race 35 Recap: Winner Revealed!
Tonight’s season finale of The Amazing Race 35 aired on CBS, bringing the long, competitive season to a dramatic close. This recap walks through the final leg in Seattle, the challenges the Final Three faced, and how Greg & John ultimately clinched the victory.
The Final Three departed for the last leg in Seattle, Washington, where the race picked up at the city’s iconic Space Needle. Rob & Corey left first and said starting in the lead gave them confidence; they planned to stay focused and not rush. Greg & John departed second, buoyed by multiple first-place legs earlier in the season. Joel & Garrett left in third, energized and determined to give everything they had.
All three teams drove themselves to the Space Needle, where each had to don harnesses and climb to retrieve their next clue. Corey grabbed the clue first for Rob & Corey, revealing their next destination: the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibition. The other teams followed closely behind and received the same instruction.
At Chihuly Garden and Glass the racers encountered the Seattle Scramble: a three-part challenge they could complete in any order. The tasks were labeled Grunge (working as roadies for a grunge band and setting up equipment), Grab (a trapeze-style stunt requiring flips and catches), and Glass (molding and blowing hot glass under professional guidance). This flexible format tested speed, coordination, and strategy, and it would decide which teams reached the final task first.
Glass Challenge
Greg & John reached the Glass station first, with Joel & Garrett arriving moments later. Professionals demonstrated proper glassblowing techniques before teams began. Meanwhile, Rob & Corey tackled the Grab trapeze challenge first. Corey cleared the test promptly, but Rob struggled, requiring multiple attempts before successfully completing his flip and catch.
Back at Glass, Joel & Garrett completed their piece first. Greg & John broke part of their glass bubble and had to start over, losing time. Rob & Corey, after finally finishing the trapeze, moved on to the Grunge setup. Joel & Garrett worked quickly to set the stage but initially failed two inspections, forcing them to correct mistakes under pressure. Greg & John arrived at the same station and, after reassembling their glass piece, also made their way to the Grunge task.
The roadie challenge required precision and attention to detail. Teams had to locate and assemble amps, cords, and other equipment correctly to pass inspection. Rob & Corey at one point fumbled locating power cords but recovered and completed the setup. Greg & John struggled with a hidden amp attached to a lid until they realized the piece was integrated and finally completed the task. Joel & Garrett, despite initial setbacks, corrected their errors and moved onward.
The last challenge before the finish line
With all three teams completing the Seattle Scramble, they headed to Kenmore Air for what was likely the final task before the Finish Line. The Kenmore Air challenge required teams to arrange a series of kayaks, each labeled with a Roadblock or Detour, into the chronological order those tasks had appeared throughout the race. This kind of memory-and-sequencing challenge is a common finale test on The Amazing Race, rewarding teams that tracked their own journey closely.
Joel & Garrett arrived at Kenmore Air first and began arranging their kayaks. Greg & John reached the waterfront soon after. Rob & Corey ran into navigation issues on the drive and arrived later, putting them behind. Joel & Garrett made steady progress but failed their first inspection, indicating they had the order wrong. Greg & John, meanwhile, pieced together the correct sequence and passed the kayak check.
GREG & JOHN WIN THE AMAZING RACE!
After completing the kayak task, Greg & John raced to the Finish Line at Marymoor Park and were the first team to check in—crowned the winners of The Amazing Race 35. Their finish celebrated strong teamwork, consistent performance throughout the season, and composure during the pressure-packed final leg.
Joel & Garrett arrived shortly after as the second-place team in a close finish that John estimated was about twenty seconds apart. They reflected on how the race strengthened their relationship and celebrated their hard-fought second-place result. Rob & Corey completed the trio as the third-place team; both expressed pride in each other and gratitude for the shared experience, particularly the father-son bond they deepened on the race.
Final Leg Summary
Winners: Greg & John
Runners-up: Joel & Garrett
Third place: Rob & Corey
That concludes The Amazing Race 35. The season finale delivered tense challenges in Seattle—at the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Kenmore Air, and the Finish Line at Marymoor Park—showcasing teamwork, endurance, and quick thinking. Thanks for following this recap; tune in next season for more global racing, puzzles, and unpredictable twists on The Amazing Race.