To many, the land between the furthest east and furthest western points of the 2021 Hot Rod Power Tour is simply summed up in one word: "cornfield". Between Norwalk, Ohio and Madison, Illinois, it's true that you will spend hundreds of miles staring out at acres upon acres of corn fields, soybean fields, wheat fields and whatever else farmers can grow. America's Heartland, America's Breadbasket, call it whatever you want, but there's fertile land surrounding the Mississippi River, the Ohio River, and around the Great Lakes. But it's not the desolate, wasteland flyover country that many often claim the Midwest is. Yes, there's open land and a light population density, but when is that a bad thing? Until you've had the warming, positive experience of eating a killer breakfast at some hole-in-the-wall diner on Main Street just as the sun is turning everything golden, until you've opened the throttle blades up on some empty two-lane miles away from the nearest village, until you've driven through a town that looks like it was ripped straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting, then you haven't lived. You've just pointed at a place at a map and have said, "Not there".

As the drivers finish the last stretch of the trip up, making their way from World Wide Technology Raceway to Champaign, Illinois, we hope that they have taken the time to see the sights, to sample some local cuisine, and to spend the time on the road reflecting on what is truly important in life. Whether it's a long car ride with the family exploring new territory, or a bunch of friends packed into an old RV having a blast together, or even if it's just you and the road and some company with other gearheads when you stop for food and fuel, Power Tour should be a bucket-list item to check. So long as you're able, hit the road, meet new people, see new sights and remember that America is more than just where you're standing at any one point in time.