24….no, not the tv show.

Jeff King took his in Takotna, current race leader Doug Swingley is taking his in Cripple and others are following. This is a point in the race when you can really seen things change around because of the mandated 24 hour layover. Not only can the leaderboard get confusing because it fails to reflect *true* positions, but it strategy comes in there for the mushers as well.

Jeff King came into Takotna in second place, just half an hour behind Swingley with amazingly all of his dogs in great shape. Instead of giving chase to Doug, King decides to keep his dogs healthy and happy and take his 24-hour layover there. By doing this and becoming on of the first mushers to take the longest break of the race, he is betting on the fact that he will have the energy and stamina to go faster past Swingley.

Most mushers on this northern route will take their 24 hour layover in Takotna, Cripple or McGrath. Expect the leaderboard to look completely different over the next few hours as people are off the trail for extended periods of time.

Each musher is required to take a 24 hour layover anywhere on the trail, they must take an 8 hour layover on the Yukon River, and an 8 hour layover in White Mountain, before sprinting into Nome.