Nicolas Petit Claims Decisive Win in 2018 Kobuk 440
![](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015-03-07-iditarod-2015-anc-063-2432px-1200x800.jpg)
There was still pale orange light in the western sky as the French-born Girdwood musher rode into Kotzebue at 12:08 Sunday morning. He had seven energetic dogs in harness.
Browning, King Race for Second as Petit Pushes On
![Ellen King in Ambler on the 2018 Kobuk 440 trail (Photo: Zoe Grueskin, KNOM)](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018-04-13-10.01.10-e1523744190543-1200x900.jpg)
Veteran Tony Browning is the musher with the most Kobuk 440s under his belt, while relative newbie Ellen King is only racing her second.
Petit Extends Lead; Jessie Holmes Scratches
![Nicolas Petit after pulling into the Ambler checkpoint for the second time (Photo: Gabe Colombo, KNOM)](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_2461-1200x900.jpg)
Petit checked in to Ambler for the second time after completing the turnaround leg to Kobuk and back in a swift 7 hours. Holmes says he “way too hard, way too fast” at the beginning.
Nic Petit First to Ambler
![Nicolas Petit in Cripple](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2014-03-06-iditarod-cripple-16-1216px1-1200x800.jpg)
The sun was just creeping over Bornite Mountain when Nicolas Petit rode into Ambler in first position. It’s the third checkpoint in the Kobuk 440 and where mushers tend to take longer rests.