Casey Boylan and Bryan Leslie, the team that came so close to winning the 2021 race, saw their dreams dashed again this week, after they made the tough decision to scratch from the race in Nome. 

Boylan, in Nome on Wednesday, was rounding up his gear and packing for the afternoon flight to Anchorage, shortly after what should have been Team 14’s departure back onto the race course. The two made the difficult decision to end their race after assessing injuries Leslie sustained on the run into Nome on Sunday. 

“What can you do?” Boylan said. “You can sit here and be bummed, and I could cry about it, Bryan is obviously upset too, but this stuff happens.”

Team 14 was in a close second-place behind current front-runners, Team 7, Tyler Aklestad and Nick Olstad, when the accident happened. At a spot called Walla Walla just outside of Elim, the two crossed a brief section of overflow. Boylan, in the lead, made it across unscathed. But Leslie, in Boylan’s wake, had a hard get-off – so impactful it got the attention of nearby Team 24 racer Evan Booth, who rushed to help. Booth described Leslie as being in the “fetal position,” and said at the time he was sure it would be a medevac-type of situation. 

“It was a rough day of riding,” Booth said of that day. “I got ejected off my machine hard once too and had to lay there a few minutes to collect myself. I’ve also been injured bad in the Iron Dog before, so I know how easily it can happen.” 

However, Leslie managed to get himself up, and Team 14 limped it in the additional 90-plus miles to Nome. They kept their second-place standings but knew already that their race was in jeopardy. Leslie went straight to the hospital, where he was evaluated. While he couldn’t get a definitive diagnosis, Boylan said, the hematomas and swelling were enough to incapacitate him. 

Leslie was still recovering Wednesday and could not be reached, but Boylan said he spoke to his partner at daylight, and it quickly became apparent that they would not be making their scheduled departure time. 

“He said he maybe got two hours of sleep,” Boylan said.  “I know he’s hurting, it’s one those things where it’s pretty tough; you don’t know what to do. You want to ride, you never want to quit. But he can about walk from the bed to the bathroom.” 

The two were hoping this year they could recapture the victory that was within their reach in 2021, when a mechanical failure in the final stretch bumped them into second place. But at least they finished, Boylan said – and on the podium. In 2020, they scratched with just 500 miles to go due to mechanical problems.  

“Whether you get 1st or 10th or last, a finish is always good,” Boylan said. “At least you can look back and know you got there; I think most people would rather have a finish than a DNF.” 

Tyson Johnson, a former Iron Dog champion, 22-time racer, and one of this year’s race marshals, said he feels Team 14’s pain. 

“I’ve been taken out of the race for everything imaginable,” Johnson said. “I’ve caught a sled on fire, blown motors up in the first 15 miles, we’ve sunk in the ocean – it happens to you. I’ve had to scratch with a 40-minute lead.” 

However, he said, this disappointment is just a blip in what will be a long career for Casey Boylan and Bryan Leslie. 

 “I understand being sad, especially being so close to the pack and having everyone rooting for them. But it’s one of those things that happens, he said. “I’ve scratched from the race and looked back and said we shouldn’t have scratched. But in this situation, with an injury this serious, they don’t have to feel this way. 

Besides, Johnson pointed out, both Boylan and Leslie are not even 30 years old yet, and have a long career still ahead of them. 

“Most Iron Doggers don’t get into their prime until their mid-30s,” he said. “I have no doubt they will eventually win this race.” 

Seven other teams have seen their Iron Dog dreams dashed this year as well – Teams 2, 8, 16, 18, 28, 38 and 39. For them, Johnson has the same advice: You live to race another day. 

Media Contact: Bob Menne, Executive Director, Iron Dog Inc., (907) 854-0097 or (907) 563-4414,  director@irondog.org      

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