A total of 38 Iron Dog teams left Big Lake on Sunday for the start of the 2,031-mile snowmachine race across Alaska.

Teams are racing for more than $200,000 in prize money, with $50,000 going to the winners.

The race will pause for 36 hours in Nome, with a banquet for racers scheduled there Wednesday night. The race ends Saturday in Fairbanks.

First to leave was the team of Bret Brown of Anchorage and Cody Kubitz of Eagle River. Defending champions Dusty VanMeter of Kasilof and Marc McKenna of Anchorage, who set the race record last year, were the 23rd team to leave.

Follow updates at irondograce.org or the race's Twitter or Facebook feeds.