Art Velez and John James "JJ" Carrell are a team of Border Patrol Agents on The Amazing Race 20 and a team of Best Friends on The Amazing Race 31.
Profile
Art
- Age: 43
- Hometown: Temecula, Calif.
- Connection to your teammate: Friend/Co-worker
- Current occupation: Border Patrol Agent
- Describe what you do: I tell others what to do, how to do it, and I prevent illegal immigrants from entering the country.
- How will these skills help you win The Race? I have the ability to adapt, adjust, overcome and make split second command decisions.
- Three words to describe you: Funny, hilarious and good looking.
- Favorite hobbies: Shooting guns in competition, golfing and smoking/cooking meats.
- What famous person reminds you of yourself? Ben Affleck
- What famous person reminds you of your teammate? David "The Hoff" Hasselhoff
- What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? My incredible son and my marriage.
- What scares you most about traveling? Getting arrested in a foreign country.
- What excites you most about traveling? Experiencing different cultures.
- Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on The Race together: My partner needs to understand and learn that not everyone in the world is stupid.
- Pet peeve about your teammate: His botox shots, plucked eyebrows and those loafers.
- What country and place would you most like to visit and why? Spoke highly of New Zealand and they were wonderful people.
- What do you hope to accomplish by running The Race (other than winning one million bucks)? I want to see my partner cry on national television because I am his boss and he is a wuss.
JJ
- Age: 42
- Hometown: Carlsbad, Calif.
- Connection to your teammate: Friend/Co-worker
- Current occupation: Border Patrol Agent
- Describe what you do: I supervise an anti-smuggling group of 20 agents in the United States Border Patrol.
- How will these skills help you win The Race? I have to make quick and decisive decisions. I also have to think clearly and make sound decisions under extreme pressure.
- Three words to describe you: Honest, funny and solid.
- Favorite hobbies: Going to the beach, reading and working out.
- What famous person reminds you of yourself? Goose in "Top Gun."
- What famous person reminds you of your teammate? The Tasmanian Devil.
- What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? Adopting my son.
- What scares you most about traveling? Getting sick.
- What excites you most about traveling? Experiencing other people and cultures.
- Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on The Race together: We always yell at each other. We need a smooth communication pattern.
- Pet peeve about your teammate: His stupid gold chain that holds his badge.
- What country and place would you most like to visit and why? New Zealand, because I want to experience the people and the culture.
- What do you hope to accomplish by running The Race (other than winning one million bucks)? A better working relationship and better communication.
Previous season: The Amazing Race 20
JJ Carrell=
- Age: 49
- Hometown: San Marcos, California
- Current occupation: Border Patrol Agent / Immigration Enforcement
- Describe what you do: I am a Watch Commander (LT in police) in the USBP. Enforce Immigration Law.
- Three words to describe you: Loyal, strong, and determined.
- Favorite hobbies: Playing football, taking my son to the skate park, and coaching my son in sports.
- What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? Adopting my son Joseph.
- What scares you most about traveling? Being stuck somewhere with no way out.
- What excites you most about traveling? Everything about experiencing new cultures, sights, smells, and people.
- What country and place would you most like to visit and why? Russia, because of the history.
- What do you hope to accomplish by running the Race with your partner (other than winning one million bucks)? Seeing the world through the eyes of the Race. Fast, overwhelming, and exciting.
- Who do you think will be your biggest competition: Racers, Houseguests, or Castaways? Racers.
Art Velez
- Age: 49
- Hometown: Temecula, California
- Current occupation: Federal Agent
- Describe what you do: Arrest criminals entering the country illegally and those smuggling illegal contraband.
- Three words to describe you: Humorous, outgoing, and positive. Favorite hobbies: Competitive shooting, golfing, and barbecuing.
- What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? My son attending the U.S. Naval Academy.
- What scares you most about traveling? Getting arrested.
- What excites you most about traveling? Exploring new wonders.
- What country and place would you most like to visit and why? New Zealand to see the Southern Lights.
- What do you hope to accomplish by running the Race with your partner (other than winning one million bucks)? Travel to new places, experience different cultures, and meet new people.
- Who do you think will be your biggest competition: Racers, Houseguests, or Castaways? Racers!
The Amazing Race 20
Race History
Art & JJ's Race History | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Episode | Leg | Destination(s) | Detour Choice (underlined) |
Roadblock Performer |
Placement | Notes |
1 | 1 | United States → Argentina | No Detour | Art | 3 of 11 | |
2 | 2 | Argentina | Boil My Water / Light My Fire | JJ | 2 of 10 | |
3 | 3 | Argentina → Paraguay | Stacked Up / Strung Out | Art | 1 of 9 | |
4 | 4 | Paraguay → Italy | Used Fast Forward | 1 of 8► | ||
5 | 5 | Italy → Germany | Fairy Tale / Champion Male | Art | 1 of 8 | |
6 | 6 | Germany → Azerbaijan | Apples / Oil | JJ | 2 of 7 | |
7 | 7 | Azerbaijan → Tanzania | Marksmanship / Courtship | No Roadblock | 3 of 6 | |
8 | 8 | Tanzania | Water Supply / Air Supply | Art | 3 of 6⊂ | |
9 | 9 | Tanzania → India | Cricket / Clutch It | JJ | 3 of 5 | |
10 | 10 | India | Pachyderm / Pack a Box | Art | 4 of 5 | |
11 | 11 | India → Japan | Bingo Shout-Out / Photo Cut-Out | Art | 2 of 4 | |
12 | Japan → United States | No Detour | JJ | 2 of 3 | [1] | |
Art | ||||||
Average | 2.25 | |||||
Legend:
| ||||||
Notes:
|
The Amazing Race 31
Race History
Art & JJ's Race History | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Episode | Leg | Destination(s) | Detour Choice (underlined) |
Roadblock Performer |
Placement | Notes |
1 | 1 | TBD of 11 | ||||
Average | TBD | |||||
Legend:
| ||||||
Notes: |
Post-Race
- Gave half of their ten thousand dollars that they won on leg 5 to Bopper & Mark (for Bopper to pay the medical bills of his daughter who has a respiratory problem), who had come in last, but turns out to be a non-elimination leg.
- Art & JJ appeared on The Price is Right for a The Amazing Race special that aired on May 25, 2016. However, Art & JJ did not compete themselves.[3]
Trivia
External links
Interviews
- Susan Gonzales at Yakkity Yaks (05/09/2012): "The Amazing Race: The Yak Chats with 2nd Place Winners Art and JJ!"
- Elimination Interviews at CBS.com (05/08/2012): "Elimination Interview: Art & JJ"
- Daniel Fienberg at Hitfix.com (05/10/2012): "The second place border agents discuss their Race journey"
- Catriona Wightman at Digital Spy (05/08/2012): "It just wasn't our day"
- Gina Scarpa at Reality Wanted (05/08/2012): "The Amazing Race 20: Exclusive Interview with Art Velez and JJ Carrell"
- Reg Seeton at The Deadbolt (05/08/2012): "Reliving The Amazing Race with Art Velez and J.J. Carrell"
- Elizabeth Kwiatkowski at Reality TV World (05/09/2012): "Exclusive: Art Velez and J.J. Carrell talk 'The Amazing Race" [Parts 1 & 2]
- Joyce Eng at TV Guide Online (05/08/2012): "We Don't Care If People Think We're Jerks"
Social Media Profiles
- Art & JJ's Twitter: @Art_and_JJ
- Art & JJ's Facebook: /Art-and-JJ-Fan-Page
- Art's Twitter: @velez_art
References
The Amazing Race 20 Teams | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||
|
The Amazing Race 31 Teams | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||
|