2026 Copper Basin 100 musher roster & race preview

After last year's lack luster winter (did we even HAVE winter in Alaska last year?) the Copper Basin 100 is excited to host the inaugural 100 mile event. Juniors mushers are welcome to join the competitive field in this event and the first ever race roster has a nice mix of seasoned and rookie competitors. Unlike the Copper Basin 300 (the CB100's older bigger brother), the CB100 should see much milder temps for teams to race in. The joys of early spring vs mid-winter!

Created to fill the need of entry level mid distance length races, the CB100 will run from Eureka Roadhouse in two fifty-mile loops where they will start, end, and finish at the roadhouse. There are reports of overflow, so it won't be a completely simple race. The views are said to be pretty incredible, though.

The rules state that the start will be in two minute intervals *unless* conditions allow for a mass start. The decision on what type of start the race will have will be decided ahead of the musher meeting and announced at the meeting. Nothing like a little pre-race suspense! The race will have one mandatory six hour stop at the halfway point of the race (at Eureka Lodge). Note that mushers have four hours after the first musher signs into the midway point to be allowed to finish the race. 

Teams must start with a minimum of seven dogs and no more than ten dogs. Teams must finish with at least five dogs pulling in harness. Firearms are not permitted to be carried by mushers under the age of 18 (and no team is allowed to have pyrotechnics - ie roman candles - in their sled....do we want to know why they had to have that rule?).

First through Third place will receive awards, as well as red lantern, sportsmanship (voted by mushers), vet care (voted by vets), and Golden Rake award (voted by checkpoint for which team's handler does the best clean up).

"The spirit of the CB100 is one of encouraging and empowering young mushers to accomplish big goals with their dog teams," the race writes in their rules. "We will have accomplished mushers around the race and at the checkpoint to offer advice about racing and to inspire the junior racers."

As with any first time race, it will just be fun to watch as we armchair mushers learn the trail with the teams. So, before this gets much longer, let's take a look at the roster. Note that bib numbers will be drawn at the musher meeting on Friday afternoon, so this blog will update to reflect bib/start order as soon as they are published.

Musher Roster

Musher	Kennel	Link	Link	Link
Bruce Carlton	Trails End Kennel (Junior Musher)		Facebook Bio	Instagram
Nathan Helmer	Copper Eagle Kennel		Facebook Bio
Nick Ness	Dream a Dream Kennel		Facebook
Cim Smith	Perserverance Springs Farm		Facebook
Joanna Weber	Motley Crew Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
Noah Spies	(Junior Musher)	?	?	?
Miguel Isla Casares	AK Sled Dog Tours Kennel		Facebook	Instagram
William Baker	49th State Sled Dogs	Website	Facebook
Eddie Burke	Off the Rails Racing	Website	Facebook	Instagram
Emma Lewis	Wildwoods Mushing			Instagram
Justin Olnes	ReRun Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
Grayson Bruton	The Cure Racing Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
Sean de Wolski	Bouncing Bumbles	Website

Roster as of March 25, 2026 @ 9pm AKDT. 

So what can we expect on how to follow the race? Glad you asked. Let's take a look at what we know, and what we hope...

How to Watch

Official Website
The Copper Basin 300's website now has a full section dedicated to the inaugural CB100. You can find the musher roster, the race rules, trail description and map - among other things. 

Trackers
There doesn't seem to be anything saying there will be trackers. We may have to go completely old school on this one, folks, and wait for reports from the race to tell us how things are playing out. Waiting to get official word before giving up all hope. Have no fear! Trackers are here! 

Social Media
The Copper Basin is most active on Facebook and Instagram. Expect that updates will be mostly on their Facebook page, it is unclear if they will try to go LIVE.

Schedule of Events

Friday, March 27, 2026
9am - Vet Checks
Noon - Musher Meeting
2pm - Race Start

Saturday, March 28, 2026
Finishes throughout the day.
5pm - Finisher's Banquet

We've had several new races this season, are you ready for another one? Thoughts on the roster? Who do you expect to win? Who are you cheering for? Comment below with your thoughts!

If you like what you see and want to support my addiction (I mean HOBBY) of following these races and stalking (I mean cheering on) the mushers, you can buy me a slice of pizza (that really goes to paying for my internet/web expenses).

2026 Nome-Golovin 200 musher roster and race preview

Nome bid farewell to the hoopla of Iditarod Week Monday with officials, sponsors, and most of the teams and fans back home by Monday - but not everyone has had enough of Nome and her mushing trails. Put on by the Nome Kennel Club, the Nome to Golovin 200 mile sled dog race is set to take off Thursday night with seven teams vying for the top spot.

Of the seven teams running this year's race, one just completed the nearly thousand mile Iditarod Sled Dog Race. After almost a week long "break" from competing the team will be back out on the trail covering some of the same miles they just ran across days earlier.

Several other teams flew in for the race hoping to keep their season going just a little bit longer. And then there are the local teams, many attached to the kennel club as members of the board. It's a celebration of local and statewide talent that this year hopes to also bring a light to the opiod epidemic. The race plans to have each team carry Narcan in their sleds as a way to bring awareness and education to the area.

Teams will run from Nome to White Mountain and onto Golovin where they will have a mandatory six hour rest before turning around and heading back to Nome. Team must also take an additional six hours of "floating rest" which mushers will log in their logbook and it will be verified using the trackers. For the whole set of rules you can find them via the kennel club website. 

The mushers have their bib numbers already, though they won't have their musher's meeting until Wednesday. Vet Checks will happen Thursday before the teams take off Thursday Night. They expect a finish on Saturday.

So let's take a look at this small but mighty roster.

Musher Roster

Bib	Musher	Kennel	Link	Link	Link
1	Garrick Fuller	The Dog Lot		Facebook
2	Bailey Vitello	Team Bailey	Website	Facebook	Instagram
3	Burr Lemaire	Comstock Kennel		Facebook	Instagram
4	Jennifer Nelson	Northern Lone Star Mushing		Facebook	Instagram
5	Sarah Richards	Deja Vu Sled Dogs	Website	Facebook	Instagram
6	Annette Llanes	Honky Tonk Kennel		Facebook	Instagram
7	Diana Haecker	Artic Sky Kennel		Facebook

*Roster as of March 24 @ 8:30pm AKDT.

How to Watch

Official Website

There's not a whole lot of information on the race via the website, but the basics are there. You can also learn about the Nome Kennel Club - including its impressive history. 

Trackers

The race has confirmed that there will be trackers provided by trackleaders. Considering fans have gone into major tracker withdrawl after Iditarod finished, this will no doubt give great relief to many.

Social Media

The Nome Kennel Club's facebook page has given great info on each team running this weekend as well as info on the race itself. They've become pretty active lately and hopefully that will continue during the race.

Schedule of Events

Wednesday, March 25, 2026
6PM - Musher's Meeting

Thursday, March 26, 2026
9am-12pm - Vet Checks
6pm - Race Start

Saturday, March 28, 2026

Finishes to happen throughout the day.

Sunday, March 29, 2026
2pm - Musher's Banquet

Are you ready for another race? Who are you looking forward to seeing race down the trail? Comment below with your thoughts!

If you like what you see and want to support my addiction (I mean HOBBY) of following these races and stalking (I mean cheering on) the mushers, you can buy me a slice of pizza (that really goes to paying for my internet/web expenses).

Mille Porsild shares tribute of dog Charley

Mille Porsild and team have, understandably, been silent since her scratch from Iditarod 54 after her dog Charley died while running. The gross necropsy performed by a licensed veterinarian has found no cause for why the four-year old dog died, and further tests will be conducted to try and pinpoint what happened.

Mille posted to Facebook Sunday evening explaining that her scratch was not due to a rule, the musher stated she just could not continue without Charley. The post also gave more insight to what the necropsy found (or didn't find); " no physical trauma, clear lungs, great body condition," Porsild wrote, "no nothing, no answer."

Porsild's post did go into the event of Charley's passing, and raw emotion was still evident behind every word. It's every dog owner's worst nightmare realized. Any pet owner who has experienced a similar event with their pet can understand Mille's anguish. (This is your trigger warning, if you will, before you choose to read her post.)

Porsild is known for her dog care and her storytelling. Mille was awarded the Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian award for her dog care at the 2021 Iditarod. She often shares photos and stories of her dogs on her social media and gives interviews praising her dogs throughout races. The shock and pain of the loss of Charley rippled through the Iditarod community. 

"Charley was light. She was a beautiful soul - a force of nature teaming with radient energy and electric vitality," Mille wrote in tribute. "She was wonderfully quirky.  A brilliant autistic being whose mind moved in its own ways with a most often very singular purpose. And yes, this made her an absolutely incredible sled dog. It also made for her being shy and uneasy with ‘new.’ But once you gained her trust, two - or four legged, she was a bestie. Her and Lion share a very special bond, this is a gigantic loss to Lion. She looked to him for guidance and sense of safety… and she has guided Lion to a little less drama and a lot more lightness in the moment with her gentle very joyous heart."

When a dog dies in the race, according to Rule 42 the team's race is automatically done unless it was clear outside forces were the cause (moose, snowmachine, etc). The race gives the musher the choice of having it be considered a scratch (musher's choice) or a withdrawal (race official). It is not a disqualification unless necropsy/tests find the musher to be at fault. The rule is controversial to some fans and mushers. Mille, apparently, was aware of the discussion going on after her scratch and wanted to set the record straight.

"I scratched Iditarod 2026 in Elim," the musher wrote. "The reason provided “The loss of our beloved Charlie.” I was not forced to scratch, I did not scratch because of a rule. I appreciate that some think it unfair that we could not continue on to the finishline because of Iditarod rules… but please know, of that I was simply not capable."

It is too soon to be asking Mille if she will race again. It is too soon to ask much of anything from Mille at this point. The waiting and the wondering will haunt her - as it does ever pet owner when something like this happens. 

At the Musher's Banquet in Nome, Iditarod CEO Rob Urbach in his speech Sunday Night asked for a moment of silence for Charley ahead of the celebration.  All of Iditarod mourns with Mille and it was evident Sunday.

"I wish people love and celebrate Charley for who she was," Mille finished her statement, "For her love and utter joy. 

This, our time together, her spirit, is in my heart.

Charley is part of me forever."

2026 T-Dog 200 Musher Roster

With all the Hoopla for the Iditarod, the T-Dog got a little overlooked on the blog. HUGE apologies as this is a fun an exciting race that deserves its time in the spotlight. Look for this blog to hopefully get edited Saturday with more information on how to follow the race, but for now, ahead of the start Saturday morning, let's take a look at the roster of the 200 mile race that can be used as an Iditarod Qualifier.

Musher	Kennel	Link	Link	Link
Mike Parker	Northern Whites Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
Holly Lynn	Dallas Seavey Racing Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
Torleif Bentzen	Whiskey Jack Kennel		Mom's FB
Anna Berington	Seeing Double Racing	Website	Facebook	Instagram
Tyler Berger	Skookum Expeditions		?	?
Hunter Keefe	Look Out Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
Meghan McClelland	Northern Whites Kennel	Website	Facebook	Instagram
James Seale	Crooked Creek Kennel		Facebook
Matt Rapelje	?		Facebook
Matt Riess	Turning Heads Kennel	Website	Facebook

*Roster as of March 20, 2026 @ 10:15pm AKDST.

Are you going to keep up with all the happenings at the TDog? Who are you excited to see? Comment below with your thoughts!

Widow's Lamp extinguished, Red Lantern awarded

Richie Beattie at the Ceremonial Start of Iditarod 54.
March 7, 2026. Anchorage, Alaska.

The 54th running of Iditarod has all but come to a close. At 7:49pm AKDST Friday, Richie Beattie and his team of eight Alaskan Huskies crossed under the Burled Arch in Nome as the final team of Iditarod 54. The re-run rookie was all smiles and excitement as he was greeted by friends and family in Nome.

The team out of Wildthingz Kennel spent much of the race towards the back of the pack as Richie wanted to make sure his dogs were healthy and happy throughout the entire race. The musher would say in his interview at the finish that it was a mental challenge after what happened in his true rookie year.

Beattie did not come into White Mountain Wednesday as the Red Lantern placement, but Beattie mentioned that being a little older and possibly more experienced played a part in his decision to be one of the last to leave. "If you're in the back of the pack it's way cooler to get the Red Lantern than getting third, fourth, or fifth from last!"

Beattie also mentioned that it was night to just take his time in White Mountain Friday morning, to stretch and to not be in a rush. The White Mountain Nine spent 30-43 hours in White Mountain waiting out the storm. Richie said coming into Nome was great to be out of the wind and that it felt "downright warm!" in Nome. 

After going through the red tape of checking off mandatory equipment and handing over the promotional materials, trail mail, and vet book to the race marshall, the ITC asked one more thing of the musher - extingquish the Widow's Lamp. 

Iditarod Education Co-Director Jim Deprez wrote about the significance and history of the Widow's Lamp saying in part:

"The Widow’s Lamp is a reminder of, and connection to the older days of mushing. It is said to have served a dual purpose. Years ago, roadhouses used to keep a kerosene lantern hanging outside through the night. The first reason was to help light the way for the mail and supply teams still on the trail; to aid them in finding the location of the next stop. The second intention was also to help show others that a team was still on the trail. News of the mushers on the trail was relayed ahead, to have a lamp hanging outside for the weary mushers. The lamp was then blown out once the dog sled team arrived safely. A correlation can be made in this case to the Olympic torch, which is lit during the opening ceremony, and then is extinguished at the closing ceremonies to symbolize the end of the events. The Widow’s Lamp serves a similar purpose in the Iditarod. It is lit when mushers get closer to Nome and is blown out by the final musher to cross the finish line on Front Street. This signals to everyone that there are no more teams still on the trail, and the race is now officially over."

The Widow's Lamp is not the lamp awarded to the final team, however. The red lantern is a tradition in sled dogs races that started off as a joke. If you were last, you were the one that got to extinguish the lamp and it meant you were the slowest/latest. It wasn't a badge of honor... until long distance races came along.

Just finishing Iditarod is a feat - no matter the placement - and being the red lantern winner has become something that awardees take great pride in. In the last few years it even comes with a cash prize and not just a red lantern one can use as a paperweight.

Saturday mushers will continue to care for the dogs that brought them nearly a thousand miles over Alaskan terrain as they wait to fly out. The mushers will continue to heal from brutal windburn, sleep deprevation, calorie depravation... hopefully they all get showers (can never be too sure they will). There's a meet and greet set for Saturday afternoon for fans to meet all of the mushers who finished the race. Sunday will be the finisher's meeting, and then the musher's awards banquet.

And then....

...then Iditarod 54 will truly be over. And mushers, dogs, family, friends, and fans will have to go back to reality. Back to the grind. 

And maybe, just maybe, they'll countdown to Iditarod 55. 

Results of gross necropsy released

In a press release Friday morning, Iditarod shared the results of the gross necropsy performed on Charley a dog who expired on the trail from Mille Porsild's team. Persuant to Rule 42, Porsild was given the option to scratch in Elim. The dog was flown to Unalakleet where the necropsy was performed. With the results being unable to determine cause of death further testing needs to be done - we may not know the results of those tests for many weeks to come.

 "2026 IDITAROD MEDIA ADVISORY  

Date:   March 20, 2026 

From: Dan Carter, Race Marshal, Iditarod Trail Committee  

Unalakleet, Alaska –  Charley, a four-year-old female from the race team of Mille Porsild (bib #15), expired en route to the Elim checkpoint on March 17, 2026.  Charley was flown to Unalakleet where a necropsy was conducted by a board-certified veterinary pathologist.  The necropsy did not identify any obvious traumatic or medical abnormalities to explain Charley’s death. 

Further laboratory testing is being conducted in accordance with race protocol to support a thorough investigation and complete the necropsy, with every effort made to determine the cause of death.

 ###  

Media contact:   

Shannon Noonan Iditarod Trail Committee

 shannon.noonan@iditarod.com"

Teams leaving White Mountain Friday Morning

Sadie Lindquist at the Ceremonial Start of Iditarod 54.
March 7, 2026. Anchorage, Alaska.

After a very windy Thursday, the final nine teams who spent the day hunkered down in the checkpoint of White Mountain are readying their teams to leave the checkpoint and head down their final 77 miles of Iditarod 54.

The race was unofficially halted on Thursday as winds increased in the Topkok Hills and Blowhole (trail between White Mountain and the checkpoint of Safety). The section that is notorious for blowing teams off the trail and damaging sleds, hearts, and musher bodies was consideredly nearly impassable. The race gave the teams waiting to go the option to wait it out - but all teams still had the ability to leave if they felt they could handle it. The teams seemed to all have an unspoken pact that they'd leave together when the winds calmed. 

The White Mountain Nine prepared to leave as the sun was rising Friday morning, those watching on Iditarod Insider were witness to a waking dog yard of happy howls as the dogs realized that more adventure and trail awaited them and they were finally going to get going. Sadie Lindquist was first out of the checkpoint a little after nine and that energy brought about a hurry up from the rest of the mushers.

Because of their extended stay in White Mountain (of 24 or more hours) each team is allowed to leave whenever they want to. There's no stand in line and wait your turn from the order of how you got there - it's whoever is fastest to ready their team and leave they can. They can judge weather reports, talk to the veteran mushers turned volunteers in the checkpoint, etc to make the decision when to go. 

Sean Underwood of Iditarod Insider reported that the winds were dying down but still strong Friday morning, however reports had the winds being at their lowest strength come early afternoon - about when teams leaving now would be hitting the feared Blowhole. It's all strategic now on how to safely get to Nome. 

Teams have 77 miles from White Mountain to Nome. Winds can slow teams down significantly but these teams are now WELL rested, so it may not be quite the same marching speeds we watched some of the top 20 show. In nine or ten hours we should know who our red lantern is on way or the other. Nome is going to be busy tonight. Look for the first teams to come into the finish around 6pm AKDST Friday.

Adam Lindenmuth scratches from Iditarod 54

 

Adam Lindenmuth and team at the Ceremonial Start of Iditarod 54.
March 7, 2026. Anchorage, Alaska.

After doing their best to get to White Mountain for most of the day Thursday, Adam Lindenmuth tapped the SOS button Thursday afternoon asking for assistance into the checkpoint. Iditarod released an official statement on the musher's scratch after he and his team of twelve dogs were safely escorted to the White Mountain checkpointt where he was greeted by many volunteers as they helped to get him and his dogs rested. Both musher and dogs were reportedly in good health.

Lindenmuth was running a solid race and nearly 900 miles in the windstorm hit as he made his way to the former checkpoint of Golovin. The musher rested and then began their journey across Golovin Bay, all seemed to go well, but as winds apparently grew in intensity the GPS tracker showed the team having to stop many times on the sea ice and they crept along for much of the day.

"Rookie Iditarod musher Adam Lindenmuth (bib #2) of Willow, Alaska," the press release said, "scratched from Iditarod 54 today after activating his help button at 4:49 p.m., just miles outside of the White Mountain checkpoint. Race officials on snowmachine helped guide Lindenmuth and his team to the White Mountain checkpoint where he officially scratched at 6:50 p.m. today in the best interest of his team.  Lindenmuth had 12 in harness when he arrived at the checkpoint, all in good health.

The Iditarod Trail Committee recognizes Lindemuth’s remarkable resilience and grit, carrying him nearly 900 miles across the 975-mile trail. His unwavering commitment to putting his dog team first—even so close to the finish—embodies the true spirit of the Iditarod, and we look forward to welcoming him back to the trail in the future."

There has been no movement from White Mountain all day as the race has strongly suggested to the teams currently there to wait the storm out. While they haven't completely halted the race, the back of the pack have seemingly agreed to wait until Friday morning when reports indicate the winds will be back down to their normal strength and not the hulk like strength showcased Thursday.

There are currently nine teams still hoping to make it to Nome.

Potential unofficial (maybe official?) stall for Iditarod 54

If you were watching the live feed in White Mountain this morning on Iditarod Insider you may already know that the back of the pack is at a bit of a stand still. This isn't an official stall by Iditarod Officials, at least not to anyone's knowledge, but more of an agreed upon stall by the teams currently in White Mountain.

The Iditarod veteran musher turned commentator spoke briefly on the livefeed in White Mountain that the weather report was looking brutal out of White Mountain with winds continuing to hammer the Topkok Hills and "blowhole" with temperatures dropping to dangerous lows. Underwood reminded viewers that the trail from White Mountain to Safety is anything but a picnic on a good day where winds often blow teams sideways and have taken out a good many teams in the past (look up Jeff King's 2014 Iditarod in this section). Underwood commended the teams for deciding to wait it out, commenting that the added rest would benefit both dogs and humans with extra meals and down time to replenish the energy should they need to do battle with the wind.

As of 11am there is only one team out on the trail mushing and that is current red lantern Adam Lindenmuth who is on his way into White Mountain for his mandatory 8 hours. With the rest of the teams sticking around the checkpoint Adam may not be Mr. Lonely on his final 77 miles. It's gonna be a big ol' party when teams run to Nome.

Underwood reported that the storm may last through Friday morning, and he expects at least most of the teams to wait to go until about 5 or 6am Friday morning. Again, this is not an official stall of the race, so teams are free to leave any time after their individual 8 hour rest - though at this time none have left that can.

Currently in White Mountain are the teams for (in order of arrival): Kevin Hansen, Keaton Loebrich, Jason Mackey, Brenda Mackey, Sydnie Bahl, Sadie Lindquist, Joseph Sabin, Richie Beattie, and Sam Paperman. Hansen through Sabin are actually past their mandatory 8 and the last glance at the White Mountain camera, no team is moving. The only movement we have are the trees and mile markers waving in the wind and the occasional musher checking on and feeding their team. It's starting to look like some teams are going to be taking a second 24hour break on the Iditarod.

Lindemuth is about half way across Golovin Bay, from there it's a quickly climb up to White Mountain where the dogs can bed down out of the wind and begin their mandatory 8 (and possible change) before trucking their way to Nome and the end of Iditarod 54.

ETA: Wildthingz Mushing (Richie Beattie's Kennel) reported in their facebook post a short time ago that the race IS holding the teams in White Mountain until tomorrow morning.

Jesse Terry wins Rookie of the Year

Jesse Terry at the Ceremonial Start of Iditarod 54.
Anchorage, Alaska. March 7, 2026.

Nome welcomed a fourteenth team at 3:06am AKDST Thursday. The first of Iditarod 54's rookie class sped down the street and under the burled arch, their musher all smiles. Jesse Terry and his team looked unfazed by the wind and cold that the race threw at them over the last ten days, the musher's trademark smile didn't waver even when asked how he liked the wind in the Topkok Hills.

Terry spent much of the race running as the third highest placed rookie. While rookies Kevin Hansen and Sam Martin duked it out for the first half of the race, Jesse managed a steady pace. Most fans and analysts were counting him out. By the time the teams finished their run on the Yukon, Sam Martin was the favorite to take the prize for Rookie of the Year. 

Then the coast. Jesse hit the coast and it was like he'd been here before. Like many of the top teams, Terry and his team openned up the throttle. Terry had "built a monster" and he was unleashing it. While Martin had a sizeable lead heading into Shaktoolik, Jesse's team passed Hansen and closed the gap to just two hours behind Martin by the Norton Sound. Martin held off Terry through the run to Koyuk, but it was run to Elim where Terry really let the dogs cut loose.

Terry caught Martin and then just outside Elim he passed Martin, and from there it was nothing but open trail for the rookie. The team sped up. They crossed Golovin Bay and ran up to White Mountain and his final mandatory 8. 

The weather reports for Wednesday Night into Thursday morning had many wondering how the rookies would fare as they left the comfort of the mandatory stop. Winds in the Topkok Hills are legendary. Races have ended in spectacular fashion (with mushers recounting their race like veteran warriors share war stories) even the most trail hardened teams have been stalled on the run from White Mountain to Safety.

But Jesse and his team carried out their mission in spectacular fashion. The musher would recount that the wind caught his sled and threw him a few times in the hills, but the GPS only showed a competent team making good time through the worst winds of the race. Fans keeping track of his final 77 miles were constantly having to redo the math to guess his finish time. 

Terry was greeted in Nome by his wife Mary England who repeatedly embraced him and repeatedly told him how proud she was of him. Terry gave all praise to his team for the job they managed. He didn't know how fast they'd run the last leg as he'd misplaced his GPS (which he said was probably a good thing because he'd have been very annoying constantly looking at it). 

Jesse was one of the favorites to win Rookie of the Year and many who know or have followed his career were not surprised by his run up the coast and final placement. Terry is well liked and respected by those who have mushed with him and raced against him and Thursday morning was all cheers, well wishes, and celebration all over social media.

Rookie of the Year comes with a special trophy and a bonus $2000 on top of the prize money 14th place recieves. He does have the fastest time (so far) from Safety to Nome for this year's race, however it's likely his placement keeps him from qualifying (small field means it isn't the top twenty who are eligible, it's a math equation now). 

Sam Martin was the next rookie in at 6:59am AKDST with less than a minute to spare before veteran (and former Rookie of the Year winner) Josi Shelley finished right behind him, making it the closest race within a race for Iditarod 54 (again, so far). Kevin Hansen is currently on his 8 hour mandatory rest and will lead the next batch of rookies into the finish, but the winds are continuing to be a factor as they always are (and they always seem to wait for the rookies and back of the pack).

It's another wild day out on the Iditarod with many finishes still to come.