"Amazing Race" cast-off Vanessa Macias isn't letting a little thing like blowing a million dollar competition get her down, instead she's cultivating her next career move ... as a Sir Mix-a-Lot wannabe.

Macias -- known as one half of "Dating Divorcees" -- made it all the way to the final four of the reality TV show ... and was just shy of winning the million-dollar prize before getting axed on last Sunday's season finale.

Instead of jumping head first into a pint of rocky road while the episode aired ... the Texas native took the opportunity to show off her stellar rapping skills at a bar in San Antonio called Boneheadz  (yes, that's actually the spelling). 

In the video -- which is pretty great -- you see Macias bring a whole new flavor to Sir Mix-a-Lot's classic "Baby Got Back" ... a flavor the world might not have tasted, if not for her tragic elimination.

Cheers Vanessa ... you may be poor -- and bad at rapping -- but you sure do got back.

He's OBSESSED with his abs ... he's from the East Coast ... and he's got a nickname for himself ... but "Amazing Race" star Danny Horal insists he's not just another "Jersey Shore" wannabe.

Danny -- who now calls himself "The Solution" -- was out in L.A. Sunday night, hanging with his teammate Joey "Fitness" Lasalla ... and "Race" rivals Brendon and Rachel ... and dude couldn't stop talking about his stomach.

"No Situation here ... I'm The Solution ... there's a lot MORE going on over here than Situation."



So, we gotta ask ...

It's not just the contestants who run into trouble on "The Amazing Race" -- host Phil Koeghan says  he was detained in the Ukraine a few years ago ... until a powerful fan of the show bailed him out.

This video is insane!!! Some chick on the "Amazing Race" was supposed to use a giant slingshot  to launch a high-speed watermelon -- but the whole thing completely backfired ... on HER FACE!!!

The cop who was just eliminated from the current season of "Amazing Race" has finally caught a break -- he's been cleared of any wrongdoing in a massive drug investigation.

According to the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office, Detective Louis Stravato is officially back on the streets after investigators declared that he and another detective had nothing to do with a large-scale cocaine distribution ring.

The two men had been assigned to "desk duty" during the course of the operation.

Louis and his "Amazing Race" partner came in 4th place on the reality show competition.