Join thousands of drivers, sled heads, and snowmobile enthusiasts for the professional racing excitement of the 56th Running of the International 500 Snowmobile Race on Saturday, February 1st, 2025! Known as the GRAND DADDY of snowmobile endurance racing, the #SooI500 is the world’s longest, fastest, toughest, and most-exciting oval race event. Professional athletes from all over the U.S. and Canada ride the monster mile in hopes of winning this prestigious race, and adding their names to the history books of snowmobile racing
Every year, the #SooI500’s main event is always held on the first Saturday of every February starting promptly at 10:00a.m. However, all the excitement of the I-500 starts a week prior to the main event beginning on Sunday, January 26th, 2025 with the Mini-5 Kids Snowmobile Races, followed, the next night (Monday, January 27th, 2025) by the traditional Skate Night at the Track as well as the Riders Meet and Greet. The I-500 Snowmobile Race hosts time trails, mid-week racing events, and fun activities for the whole family throughout Michigan’s oldest and most beautiful city, Sault Ste. Marie
American Legion: Official Starter
In the previous 55 years of the #SooI500, the I-500 Board of Directors selects a dignitary to 
actually be on the track to drop the infamous “GREEN FLAG” which officially starts the race. This is an honor only a select few get to experience and with each year that passes, the honor and privilege builds each and every race! With thousands of spectators attending each year, it has become obvious to the I-500 Board of Directors, that we have a means to offer our debt of gratitude to those who put their lives on the line for our country and our freedom
Therefore, it is with much mutual respect and admiration for our men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, that we honor the presence of ALL American Legioneers at our world class International professional racing event. We do this by requesting an America Legion Member to be our guest of honor as the “Official Starter of the I-500.”
For the first time ever in 2020, a female veteran waved the Green Flag as Lesley-Meeker-Jago, a Veteran with the United States Army, had the honors. Then, in 2022, it was 2019 Miss I-500 Pageant Queen, Bridget Baker, a Veteran herself with the United States Marine Corps, who had the Honors of Waving the Green Flag to begin the most grueling and prestigious snowmobile race in the world