Who: DJ Ekre
What: Day 3 of the 2010 USCC I-500 cross-country.
When: January 17, 2010.
Where: One mile from the first fuel stop just outside of Goodridge, Minnesota
One of the best cross-country racers of the era, Ekre was on the cusp of what would have been his first-ever win in the I-500 XC. He led after day one, and again after day two. Heading into the first of two fuel stops on the final day, Ekre’s lead was several minutes. But his date with destiny would soon unravel, in the form of track failure.
In a cruel twist of fate, the Ripsaw track on Ekre’s sled ripped lengthwise in two areas,effectively ending his race at the halfway point of the final day. The same fate befell his teammates Cory Davis, Ryan Simons and Chad Kyllo.
It was a heartbreaking end to Ekre’s I-500, a race that he was never able to claim during an otherwise storied career.