# Tough as Nails season 3

The third season of the American television series Tough as Nails premiered on CBS on October 6, 2021, and concluded on December 8, 2021. The season was won by jill-of-all-trades Lia Mort, with diesel mechanic Dequincey "Quincey" Walker finishing second, and heavy equipment operator Jerome Kupuka'a placing third.

## Cast

| Contestant | Job | Age | Hometown | Team | Money Earned | Result |
| Lia Mort | Jill-of-all-trades | 54 | Lititz, Pennsylvania | Dirty Hands | $220,000 | Winner |
| Dequincey "Quincey" Walker | Diesel mechanic | 34 | Lamar, South Carolina | Dirty Hands | $20,000 | Runner-up |
| Jerome Kupuka'a | Heavy equipment operator | 48 | ʻEwa Beach, Hawaii | Dirty Hands | $20,000 | Third place |
| Elizabeth Rillera | Contractor | 37 | Shelton, Washington | Savage Crew | $8,000 | Punched out ninth |
| Mike Shaffer | Lineman | 32 | Brewerton, New York | Savage Crew | $8,000 | Punched out eighth |
| Takeru "Tak" Tanabe | Construction foreman | 35 | Kailua-Kona, Hawaii | Dirty Hands | $20,000 | Punched out seventh |
| Alfredo "Alfie" P. Rivera | Construction supervisor | 55 | Santiago, Chile | Savage Crew | $8,000 | Punched out sixth |
| Christine Connors | Ironworker | 29 | Johnstown, Pennsylvania | Dirty Hands | $20,000 | Punched out fifth |
| Kelsy Reynolds | Crop duster | 30 | Mansfield, Illinois | Savage Crew | $8,000 | Punched out fourth |
| Sarah Ham | Cement mason | 30 | Queens, New York | Savage Crew | $8,000 | Punched out third |
| Lamar Edwin Hanger | Carpenter | 54 | Orange County, California | Savage Crew | $8,000 | Punched out second |
| Kalimba Edwards | Fire captain | 43 | Wallace, Nebraska | Dirty Hands | $20,000 | Punched out first |

### Future appearances

Dequincey "Quincey" Walker appeared on the fourth season during the automotive service challenges of the fourth episode. Lamar Edwin Hanger appeared on the fourth season during the construction challenges of the seventh episode. Lia Mort appeared in the fifth season during the apple-loading challenge in the fifth episode.

## Cast progress

| Contestant | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
| Lia | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | HIGH | WIN | HIGH | HIGH | BTM2 | WIN | WINNER |
| Quincey | HIGH | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | BTM2 | BTM2 | LOW | BTM2 | RUNNER-UP |
| Jerome | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | HIGH | WIN | THIRD |
| Elizabeth | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | LOW | LOW | SAFE | WIN | WIN | ELIM | |
| Mike | SAFE | HIGH | WIN | SAFE | HIGH | WIN | LOW | ELIM | | |
| Tak | LOW | WIN | HIGH | SAFE | SAFE | LOW | ELIM | | | |
| Alfie | SAFE | SAFE | LOW | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | | | | |
| Christine | SAFE | BTM2 | LOW | BTM2 | ELIM | | | | | |
| Kelsy | BTM2 | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | | | | | | |
| Sarah | LOW | LOW | ELIM | | | | | | | |
| Hanger | WIN | ELIM | | | | | | | | |
| Kalimba | ELIM | | | | | | | | | |
    The contestant won Tough as Nails.
    The contestant was declared the first runner-up.
    The contestant was declared the second runner-up.
    The contestant placed the highest in the individual competition and won the challenge.
    The contestant placed the second highest in the individual competition and was ultimately declared safe.
    The contestant was safe from elimination.
    The contestant placed the second lowest in the individual competition but was ultimately declared safe.
    The contestant placed the lowest in the individual competition and competed in the overtime challenge but ultimately survived.
    The contestant was the loser of the overtime challenge and was eliminated from the individual competition.

## Team progress

| Team | Money Earned | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Dirty Hands | $120,000 | LOSS | WIN | LOSS | WIN | WIN | WIN | LOSS | WIN | LOSS |
| Savage Crew | $48,000 | WIN | LOSS | WIN | LOSS | LOSS | LOSS | WIN | LOSS | WIN |
    Won the team challenge.
    Lost the team challenge.

## Production

On April 14, 2021, CBS announced that Tough as Nails was renewed for a third and a fourth season. On June 7, Phil Keoghan revealed on the show's social media that filming had begun at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The contestants also competed at Mount Baldy, the United States Coast Guard Base in San Pedro, and the Irwindale Speedway. On July 12, 2021, it was announced that the season would premiere on October 6, 2021.

## Episodes

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original air date | Prod. code | U.S. viewers (millions) |
| 21 | 1 | "Ready for Battle" | October 6, 2021 (2021-10-06) | TAN301 | 3.11 |
| Individual Challenge: Contestants had to unwrap an airdrop that was dropped onto Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton from a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, assemble a trailer, load all of the supplies onto the trailer, then use an ATV to tow the trailer across a finish line to Phil Keoghan and Tough as Nails season one champion Kelly "Murph" Murphy. The first two to finish would win the ability to choose the teams, with the overall winner picking first. Winners: Lia, Mike Team Challenge: Teams had to set up a concertina wire fence, set up a 305 tent, transfer supplies onto four pallets, change the tires on a Humvee, then raise an American flag to signal a Humvee driver to drive out of the enclosure. The first team to do so would win the challenge. Winners: Savage Crew ||||||
| 22 | 2 | "Fight Tooth and Nail" | October 13, 2021 (2021-10-13) | TAN302 | 2.93 |
| Team Challenge: Teams had to replace the wooden slats on six ski lift chairs and install them onto the cable of the Mount Baldy Ski Lifts. The first team to do so would win the challenge. Winners: Dirty Hands Individual Challenge: Contestants had to assemble a section of snow fence and saw the planks of the old fence in half. The challenge was performed in two heats. The overall fastest contestant would win a power tool prize package and the last to finish each heat would face potential elimination in the Overtime challenge. Winner: Hanger Bottom Two: Kelsy, Kalimba Overtime Challenge: Contestants had to replace nine clogged nozzles on two snowmaking machines. The first contestant to finish would be safe and the other would be eliminated from the individual competition. Eliminated: Kalimba ||||||
| 23 | 3 | "It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's a Freight Train" | October 20, 2021 (2021-10-20) | TAN303 | 2.75 |
| Team Challenge: Teams had to deliver a truckload of office supplies to four rooms in a building. After furnishing a room, teams had to get the office manager to sign a manifest. The first team to finish would win the challenge. Winners: Savage Crew Individual Challenge: Contestants had to ride in a delivery truck that was being driven by Tough as Nails season two contestant Patrick "Freight Train" Hargan and deliver twelve packages to seven houses. The contestant with the fastest time would win a care package from home, and the two contestants with the slowest times would face potential elimination in the Overtime challenge. Winner: Tak Bottom Two: Hanger, Christine Overtime Challenge: Contestants had to scan the QR codes on packages to sort them into standard and overnight delivery. They then had to load the 30 overnight packages into a truck. The first contestant to finish would be safe and the other would be eliminated from the individual competition. Eliminated: Hanger ||||||
| 24 | 4 | "Facing Fear" | October 27, 2021 (2021-10-27) | TAN304 | 2.82 |
| Team Challenge: Teams had to replace the navigational light and chains on two buoys. The first team to finish would win the challenge. Winners: Dirty Hands Individual Challenge: Contestants had to don an immersion suit, swim out to retrieve a floating training dummy called an OSCAR, which matched their weight, and return it to the dock. The challenge was performed in two heats. The overall fastest contestant would win a fishing trip and the last to finish each heat would face potential elimination in the Overtime challenge. Winner: Mike Bottom Two: Lia, Sarah Overtime Challenge: Contestants had to use a line and grapple to pull three buoys and anchors onto the USCGC George Cobb and place each one into a locker box. The first contestant to finish would be safe and the other would be eliminated from the individual competition. Eliminated: Sarah ||||||
| 25 | 5 | "Pressure Don't Scare Me" | November 3, 2021 (2021-11-03) | TAN305 | 2.64 |
| Team Challenge: Teams had to complete an auto racing pit stop at the Irwindale Speedway by changing a race car's tires and refueling the car. Teams had three attempts, and the team with the fastest time would win the challenge. Winners: Dirty Hands Individual Challenge: Contestants had to search through a pile of 600 car tires for four with the same number, mount them onto wheels, and pressurize them. The winner would drive a victory lap around the Irwindale Speedway, and the last two contestants to finish would face potential elimination in the Overtime challenge. Winner: Jerome Bottom Two: Christine, Kelsy Overtime Challenge: Contestants had to use a zoom boom lift to raise themselves 11 stories and replace a blown lightbulb. The first contestant to return to the ground would be safe and the other would be eliminated from the individual competition. Eliminated: Kelsy ||||||
| 26 | 6 | "Mud and Mayhem" | November 10, 2021 (2021-11-10) | TAN306 | 2.79 |
| Team Challenge: Teams had to move two irrigation lines (32 pipes) from one of Cinagro Farms' fields to another. The first team to finish would win the challenge. Winners: Dirty Hands Individual Challenge: Contestants had to harvest two 60-foot rows of cilantro with a hand sickle, wrap cilantro bundles with wire, and load the cilantro onto a trailer. The winner would receive a year's supply of fresh produce, and the last two contestants to finish would face potential elimination in the Overtime challenge. Winner: Lia Bottom Two: Christine, Quincey Overtime Challenge: Contestants had to drive a tractor with a disc harrow to harrow the weeds in a plot. The first contestant to finish would be safe and the other would be eliminated from the individual competition. Eliminated: Christine ||||||
| 27 | 7 | "Mic Drop" | November 17, 2021 (2021-11-17) | TAN307 | 2.80 |
| Team Challenge: Teams had to assemble a lighting grid at The Wiltern. The first team to finish would win the challenge. Winners: Savage Crew Individual Challenge: Contestants had to set up a DJ station so that it matched an example. The winner would receive a pair of tickets to the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, and the last two contestants to finish would face potential elimination in the Overtime challenge. Winner: Mike Bottom Two: Alfie, Quincey Overtime Challenge: Contestants had to place letters on the theater marquee to form the phrase "TOUGH AS NAILS TIME TO GET TO WORK". The first contestant to finish would be safe and the other would be eliminated from the individual competition. Eliminated: Alfie ||||||
| 28 | 8 | "Battle Lines" | November 24, 2021 (2021-11-24) | TAN308 | 3.06 |
| Team Challenge: Teams had to reseal a section of parking lot at Dignity Health Sports Park. They had to remove cars using a tow truck, clean debris, and fill in cracks before covering their section with a layer of sealant. The first team to finish would win the challenge. Winners: Dirty Hands Individual Challenge: Contestants had to hand-paint ten parking spots, which included two ADA parking spots, and install a car stop in the ADA parking spots. The winner would win a deluxe barbecue, and the last two contestants to finish would face potential elimination in the Overtime challenge. Winner: Elizabeth Bottom Two: Quincey, Tak Overtime Challenge: Contestants had to drive a Ford F150 out of a valet parking lot by moving the surrounding twenty cars one at a time in the lot to one of four available spots. The first contestant to finish would be safe and the other would be eliminated from the individual competition. Eliminated: Tak ||||||
| 29 | 9 | "Bull In a China Shop" | December 1, 2021 (2021-12-01) | TAN309 | 2.84 |
| Team Challenge: Teams had to nominate one team member to compete in one of three tasks: breaking up a concrete block and loading chunks into a bin to tip a scale, using a grinder to cut a seven-inch diameter pipe, and unwrapping a 50-foot chain off a bike. Teams would earn a stake after winning a challenge, and after three rounds the chosen contestants had to complete all three tasks to win two stakes. The first team to earn five stakes would win the challenge. Winners: Savage Crew Individual Challenge: Contestants had to repair ten pallets by removing and replacing the damaged wood. The winner would win a 566-piece mechanics tools kit, and the last two contestants to finish would face potential elimination in the Overtime challenge. Winner: Elizabeth Bottom Two: Mike, Lia Overtime Challenge: Contestants had to build a rocking chair, which included hand-making the dowels. The first contestant to finish would be safe and the other would be eliminated from the individual competition. Eliminated: Mike ||||||
| 30 | 10 | "Dreams Never Die" | December 8, 2021 (2021-12-08) | TAN310 | 2.89 |
| Individual Challenge: Contestants had to drive a skid-steer loader to make a ramp of gravel over a K-rail and then drive through a stack of barrels. The challenge was performed in two heats. The last to finish each heat would face potential elimination in the Overtime challenge. Bottom Two: Quincey, Elizabeth Overtime Challenge: Contestants had to assemble a backflow prevention device. The first contestant to finish would be safe and the other would be eliminated from the individual competition. Eliminated: Elizabeth Final Challenge: Contestants had to race through a gauntlet of obstacles based on previous challenges on the season, having to smash a wall with a sledgehammer, stack 30 pallets to form steps, untie and drag a dummy up a slope, undo four tires and attach them to a container to make stairs, cut three pieces of metal with a grinder to make six steps, drive in two stakes with a sledgehammer, and raise a rope ladder in order to reach the Ford truck at the finish line. The first contestant to make it through to the end would be declared the Tough as Nails Champion. Winner: Lia As the winner of the final challenge, Lia became the Tough as Nails Champion, winning the $200,000 individual prize and a 2022 Ford Super Duty truck. ||||||