Car vs train across the United States

I won't be taking the train. Outside Chicago Union Station sits a new Bentley Continental GTC V8, a Zephyr route map and a small bowser of cheap coffee. In a 2012, decidedly TopGear homage to the great Blue Train races, we're going to have a little head-to-head of our own and try to beat the Zephyr to its terminus.

The fairly faithful road route I've worked out, including some of the Zephyr's best stops, should take us 52hrs 40mins. Which means we should beat the train, but leaves precious little time for actual sleeping, other than in the passenger seat. It is at this point I realise that I haven't taken into account fuel stops, food stops, toilet stops, traffic stops or any other kind of stops. I swallow, and decide not to tell my companions - TG staffer Dan Read, photographer Justin Leighton and Bentley PR Mike Sayer - two of whom will be following in a W12 Continental chase car. A car that will require extra fuel stops.