SAULT SAINT MARIE, Mich. (Great Lakes News) – The countdown is on for the most prestigious snowmobile race in the world. 

At 10 a.m. on Saturday, the green flag will drop on the 53rd running of the I-500 in Sault Ste. Marie, where 37 sleds will compete for over 500 laps on the one-mile oval track. 

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Due to COVID-19, the event was canceled last year, and it left fans hungry for this year. The I-500 will bring hundreds of thousands of dollars to the community of Sault Ste. Marie, and attract fans from all over Michigan, Canada, and the surrounding states.

Hotels have been sold out for this week for the past four months.   

Tailgaters and fans starting to arrive at 5 a.m. to get the best seats in the house.