Iditarod musher Nicolas Petit snacks his dog team at the Nulato checkpoint before moving on down the trail Saturday. (Bob Hallinen / Alaska Dispatch News) - Nulato, Alaska 
Iditarod frontrunners rush through Nulato as race heats up
The Iditarod's top three teams treated the village of Nulato like a speed bump Saturday, slowing down only long enough to check in and check out.
Mitch Seavey made the first drive-by at 3:45 p.m. Saturday. He stayed for one minute.
Wade Marrs got there at 8:16 p.m. and stayed for one minute.
Dallas Seavey arrived at 8:46 p.m. and stayed for one minute.
Clearly, the race is on.
Mitch Seavey, a 57-year-old two-time champ from Sterling, is the trail leader, although unlike his two pursuers he needs to take his eight-hour layover before the race leaves the Yukon River.
He's taking that break in Kaltag, 47 miles downriver from Nulato and 346 miles from the finish line in Nome. He reached Kaltag at 7:40 p.m. Saturday, which means he should return to the trail at 3:40 a.m. Sunday with a well-rested team.
Nicolas Petit, of Girdwood, was the fourth musher to reach Nulato, arriving at 10:06 p.m. He lingered for six minutes, long enough to snack his dogs.