The race against the clock pits drivers against a 12.42-mile stretch of road leading up to the Pikes Peak summit, with 156 corners, 4,720 feet of elevation gain, and almost no guard rails.

U.S. News Insider Tip: Don't miss the high-altitude, secret recipe doughnuts at the Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center. An automated machine churns out thousands of the sweet treats daily.