[xoxoxoBruce]

Driving at 140 or more doesn't make you sleepy, quite the contrary. Most attempts have three people in the car so they can switch off driving and sleeping yet none to date have been able to sleep. They keep amused with stuff like short wave radios or long distance infrared spotter-scopes.
Either the last record breaker or the one before him had over twenty spotters across the country calling in traffic, weather, and patrol changes.
The cars are prepared with good brakes, pee bottles, and at least V tires.
I remember one attempt they left the Red Ball garage and almost immediately hit a traffic jam in NJ. After 20 minutes the trip was cancelled, no reason to continue. I never did find out what caused the traffic jam, maybe Christy.

We know because there are people keeping track of the attempts.
It makes no sense to do it if you won't get recognition for it.
In order to get recognition certain people have to be made aware in advance.