TFA doesn't mention it, but I've read about other Cannonball attempts where the "contestants" do their best to plan the journey so that they avoid population ce

TFA doesn't mention it, but I've read about other Cannonball attempts where the "contestants" do their best to plan the journey so that they avoid population centers during peak traffic hours and the long stretches of desolate highway driving occur at night so the highways are even more empty.