'The Great Food Truck Race' Kicks Off Season 19 With Fresh Elimination Format

The Food Network's beloved culinary competition is rolling back onto screens this weekend. Season 19 of 'The Great Food Truck Race' premieres Sunday, July 26 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, marking the show's return with a significant shake-up to how teams face elimination.

Tyler Florence continues as host for the new season, which features a matchup between four savory-focused food trucks and four sweet-themed operations. The journey takes competitors from Nashville, Tennessee through the Great Smoky Mountains as they tackle culinary and business challenges, with $50,000 on the line for the winning team.

The standout change this season involves a head-to-head redemption battle. Each week, the two lowest-performing teams will compete directly against each other in a taste-based showdown, with only the victor advancing to the next round.

Eight teams are competing for the title:

• Bug & Bear's Cannoli (Los Angeles, California)
• Cason Funnel Cakes (Richmond, Virginia)
• Deadproof Pizza Co. (Derry, New Hampshire)
• Grounds Donut House (The Bronx, New York)
• Hele Rolls (Makakilo, Hawaii)
• Jollof Bowl (Baltimore, Maryland)
• Stuph'd Beignets & Burgers (New Orleans, Louisiana)
• Waffadilla (Hampshire, Illinois)

The competition culminates with a season finale airing September 6, filmed at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

For viewers without cable access, the premiere streams live through Philo, DIRECTV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and Fubo—many offering free trial periods for new subscribers. Those who miss the live broadcast can catch the episode the following day on HBO Max and discovery+.

Since its 2010 debut, the series has followed mobile food vendors as they travel across the country, setting up shop in different cities each week to test their culinary skills and business acumen.