The 2025 I-500 Snowmobile Endurance Race in Sault Ste. Marie wrapped up Saturday evening with over 6,500 attending the 56th running of the event.
The green flag dropped at 10 a.m. with a temperature of -10F, to officially start the gruelling 500-mile race.
Eight-and-a-half hours later, the #18 Nelson Racing Team from Minnesota took the checkered flag with brothers Dan and Charlie Revering taking turns driving the Polaris sled.
After the #18 team received their congratulations at the finish line, Dan Revering told SooLeader with having Charlie as the only other driver, they needed a plan to win.
And it worked.
"It's just us two, he rode a great race. I did a 100, he did 100, I did a 100, he did 100, then I did the last 100. That worked out really good," Dan explained. "He kept us on the lead lap and then I just sprinted on that thing."
"We started 4th but then I dropped back a little bit because the others were sprinting and I was just going to settle in for a little bit. Then 50-miles in, I started sprinting a little bit and we got back somewhere towards the front. That last 100 (laps) I had three guys that just put the pressure on and I just put my head down and motoring forward."
Racing is not new to the two brothers.
"This is our tenth year of racing. We did four years of semi-pro and cross-country back in Minnesota and this is our sixth year pro. And this is our seventh year at the I-500, I believe," Dan said.
While this is the first time taking home top prize at the I-500, they have had some success in those previous seven years at the I-500.
"We have gotten 4th, 7th, 9th and 21st before," Dan said.
Speeds on the straightaways topped 110 mph at times, but Dan said racers have to be aware of the corners and the bumps in the track. It's something that takes a long time to prepare for.
"It's so big, there are so many big teams here that people support it, it's been going on for so long. The amount of preparation that goes into it is so unreal so to get it done after all the preparation, you know, it's huge. It's such a huge race, it's one of the biggest out there for snowmobile racing," Dan concluded.
Next year's I-500 Snowmobile Endurance Race will be Saturday, Feb. 7th.
