“APEX: The Secret Race Across America” documentary debuts October 20

Around a decade in the making and now narrated by Ice T, APEX: The Secret Race Across America debuts on NBC Sports on October 20 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time. This unique documentary tells the story of the record runs from New York to L.A. that originated in the 1970s but triggered even wilder solo attempts decades after the original Cannonball Runs were shut down by the FBI.

Starring 2006 record breakers Alex Roy and co-driver David Maher, APEX: The Secret Race Across America also features interviews with Cannonball founder Brock Yates, cheerful participants from both the Cannonball and U.S. Express races, and never-before-seen footage from all eras of transcontinental U.S. racing.

Jump inside Team Polizei 144’s BMW M5, and see for yourself how, 13 years ago, Roy and Maher crossed America in 31 hours, 4 minutes.

With more than 40 years’ worth of records on hand, can we say that an extensively modified E39 M5 is the ultimate transcontinental cannonball? Or is it, in fact, a similarly modded 2004 Mercedes-Benz CL55 AMG, given that the three-man team led by Ed Bolian used that to allegedly break the record in 2013? Maybe the machine in question is only secondary?

Watch the documentary on NBC Sports or download it from iTunes, and make up your own mind.