With most teams now in their 24-hour break, Lance Mackey and Jeff King make up for time lost. Mackey is the first to Checkpoint: Ruby, leaving King both confused and frustrated. King devises a plan to win the race: He will let the returning champ lead and thus expend precious energy breaking trail.
Eskimo Darin Nelson becomes the latest musher to withdraw from the race — a sick dog team breaks his will to continue, and he chooses to scratch. Meanwhile a tired DeeDee Jonrowe is accosted by a drunken fan, and the Buser family separates to allow former champion, Martin, a shot at the gold. It's now a race to the coast along the mighty Yukon.
