Nessun Dorma - Nobody Sleeps

It's beginning to look like a sprint to the finish with Lance Mackey still about 27 miles in front of his nearest pursuers. Mackey, according to the Insider GPS Tracker, is going 6 miles per hour, faster than those in chase at the moment. Mackey is at mile 542 at this writing. His closest rivals are: Schnuelle at 516; Burmeister at 515; and Neff at 514 (if they turn their heads they'll be able to see each other's headlights). There are six mushers all showing locations of 505 miles: Jeff King, Aliy Zirkle (go Aliy), John Baker, Hans Gatt, Mitch Seavey, and Paul Gebhardt (who quit drinking 19 months ago).

Nessun Dorma could be the mushers' theme from here to Nome, as sleeping will not be a priority. The signature song of Luciano Pavarotti (very appropriate for this time in the race) is from the Puccini Opera, Turandot.