So you’re driving along the highway late one night when something whizzes by you, going nearly 200 mph. You squint in the dark. Was that a Ford Mustang with all its lights off?

No, this isn’t the opening scene of the latest Fast and Furious movie. This is a (possibly) true story about the newest member of the “fraternity of lunatics” setting dangerous cross-country speed records.

In June 2020, Fred Ashmore climbed into a rented Ford Mustang GT, ripped out the back seats, and replaced them with auxiliary fuel tanks. His goal? To set the fastest solo Cannonball Run time ever.

The Cannonball Run Challenge is an underground competition to cross the U.S. from New York to Los Angeles as quickly as possible. Inspired by the illegal races of the 1970s, modern Cannonballers mix speed, strategy, and high-tech gear to dodge traffic, evade police, and save precious minutes. It’s a wild, law-defying bucket-list stunt—and for some it’s a quest to make history.

Ashmore says he completed the 2,906-mile journey from New York City’s Red Ball Garage to Los Angeles’ Portofino Hotel in just 25 hours and 55 minutes—an average speed of more than 112 mph. If true, it would shatter the previous solo Cannonball record by over an hour.

So how did Ashmore manage it? He explains that preparation was key. “I had 130 gallons of fuel in the car,” he explained. By replacing the interior with fuel tanks, he avoided time-wasting pit stops. “I only had to refuel once, and that was in Oklahoma.” He also relied on adrenaline and sheer determination, driving the entire route alone and without stopping to sleep.

A solo Cannonball record fueled by speed and paranoia

Ashmore’s alleged solo Cannonball Run strategy was built on maintaining high speeds and avoiding police detection. He claims he set the Mustang’s cruise control to 120 mph for much of the drive and only slowed down to navigate traffic or dodge law enforcement. He had to keep a high minimum speed because the rental car’s top speed was limited. “Anybody who tells you a Mustang GT goes faster than 159 mph is lying,” Ashmore added, laughing.

But the trip wasn’t all high-speed cruising. Ashmore describes a nerve-wracking moment at a California agricultural checkpoint, where his highly modified rental car—with its illegal fuel tanks hidden under a blanket—almost drew suspicion. While waiting in line for the border crossing the sleep-deprived Ashmore was paralyzed by paranoia. “I thought, ‘I’m going to jail,’” he admitted.

Despite the risks, Ashmore says he arrived in Los Angeles with fuel to spare. He snapped a photo of his stopwatch and posted it to social media, claiming the title of the fastest solo Cannonball driver.

Multiple controversies chase Fred Ashmore’s solo Cannonball record

Here’s where things get messy. The Cannonball community is notoriously hard to impress. Verification is sacred—drivers typically provide GPS logs, continuous video footage, and receipts to prove their time. Ashmore, however, offered up blurry photos and vague anecdotes.

One major problem is the lack of consistent GPS evidence. Some experts have pointed out stretches of his alleged route where he’d have needed to sustain impossible speeds—think 175 mph average in a car he openly admits can’t do that.

Critics also question the sheer insanity of a solo run. Most Cannonballers operate as teams, swapping drivers to avoid fatigue and using spotters to scout for cops. Driving solo—nonstop, no sleep, no co-driver—is a recipe for hallucinations, exhaustion, and disaster. So some Cannonball teams have criticized Ashmore’s stunt as irresponsible–if true.

Then there’s the rental car. Let’s pause to appreciate that Fred Ashmore apparently went full Mad Max on a Hertz Mustang, ripping out the interior, jerry-rigging fuel tanks, and returning it without so much as a cleaning fee.

A wild ride, whether real or imagined

So, did Fred Ashmore really set the solo Cannonball record? The evidence is shaky, and the Cannonball community isn’t convinced. But his story has certainly cemented his place in Cannonball lore.

“I wanted to prove it could be done,” Ashmore says. “Whether people believe it or not, I know I made the run.”

For now, the fastest verified Cannonball record remains 25 hours and 39 minutes, set by Arne Toman, Doug Tabbutt, and Dunadel Daryoush in a heavily modified Audi S6. They averaged 112 mph and stopped for just 31 minutes.

Ashmore’s claim may never be fully validated, but it’s undeniably entertaining. Whether he’s a record-breaking daredevil or a master storyteller, one thing’s for sure: Fred Ashmore knows how to keep us talking. See his version of his Cannonball record story in the video below: