Faribanks’s Lance Mackey, the defending Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race champion has regained the lead. However, four-time champion Jeff King of Denali Park is close behind.

King arrived at the checkpoint at Shatktoolik close behind Mackey. Mackey arrived in Shaktoolok early Monday morning, and thirteen minutes later King arrived.

Half of the top ten teams are previous champions, including the race’s only five-time winner, Rick Swenson of Two Rivers.