Driver who set new Cannonball Run coast-to-coast record in 22 hours shows off the incredibly cracked out Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing he pulled it off in
Published on Sep 23, 2026 at 2:35 PM (UTC-4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Sep 28, 2026 at 4:17 AM (UTC-4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
The man who set a Cannonball Run coast-to-coast record has shown off the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing that he did it in.
The drive took 22 hours and 38 minutes in total, taking the driver from Jacksonville, Florida to San Diego, California.
While this may not have been the traditional Cannonball run that spans New York to Los Angeles, this was still an impressive achievement.
Tommy Thomas was the guy behind the wheel of the car, and this is what he had to say about his accomplishment.
Driving across the USA is no small feat
When you live in a country as vast and expansive as the USA, road trips can easily turn into a multiple day affair.
Just take a look at what this man achieved when he drove from Miami to Virginia in 24 hours.
Coast-to-coast trips are particularly ambitious, as we’ve seen time and time again.
Not everyone can make it in one go, as this man attempting a cross-country drive in a self-driving Model Y found out.
But regardless of starting points or end points, the challenge remains the same.
It’s just as much an endurance test for the driver as it is for the car.
That’s something that Tommy Thomas knows all too well, having completed a Cannonball Run from Jacksonville, Florida, to San Diego, California.
Taking a Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing on a ‘Cannonball Run’
Now, technically, this isn’t an official Cannonball Run – a long-distance road trip where the main challenge is to drive from one specific point to another in record speed.
This unsanctioned speed record starts in the Red Ball Garage in New York City, and ends at the Portofino Hotel in Redondo Beach.
So the journey that this Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing took on is a Cannonball Run in name only.
Leaving that aside, what was accomplished here was nothing short of remarkable.
In 22 hours and 38 minutes, Tommy Thomas set a coast-to-coast record, driving from Jax Beach to Dog Beach, on what’s been branded the ‘Southern Trail’.
“At the end of the day, for right now, we are the fastest people to ever cross America in a car from coast to coast, period, in history,” Thomas told VinWIKI.
“It don’t get any more coast to coast than that. Your tires are in the sand at the beginning and they’re in the sand at the end.”
For Thomas, the motivation behind such an ambitious drive stemmed from a personal heartache.
“Seriously, this is kind of like a tale of heartache brings on a record-breaking time,” he admitted.
“But I just got through breaking up with a girl that I’ve been with for over three years. And I’m thinking what most car guys do, they go for a drive.”
How this Cadillac was modified for the Cannonball Run
The Blackwing was heavily modified to get it up to scratch for the coast-to-coast run.
Additional headlights, a 54-gallon fuel capacity to reduce stops, police radio monitoring equipment, and multiple GPS navigation screens all played their part.
It’s no wonder then that the interior ended up resembling a command center than a car, with separate screens for Waze, GPS, and telemetry.
Oh yeah, and some pricey laser jammers to interfere with laser speed detection.
Thomas had nothing but praise to heap upon the car he completed the run in.
“The guys who made this Cadillac, kudos to you, man. It’s a good car,” he said.
“It’ll do 188. It’ll run a low 12 quarter mile and it’s bone stock. Nothing is done to it.”
When approached and asked about the biggest challenge on this drive, the team at the cannonballcc page admitted it was hard to pin down an exact answer.
“It’s really hard to say the biggest challenge because overall it was a really smooth drive,” they told Supercar Blondie.
“Probably getting stuck behind a Texas DPS officer for about an hour was the worst mental challenge just watching the average drop from 108 at the time to around 101, and having to fight to get it back.”
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
