Iron Dog Attracts New Racers
News Release November 10, 2014
IRON DOG 2015 ATTRACTS NEW RACERSINCLUDING CHAMPION DOG MUSHER SONNY LINDNER
Iron Dog continues to attract an exciting lineup of snowmobile racers from Alaska, Canada and across the United States.Anchorage. For the last four years, the Iron Dog snowmobile race has maintained a field of more than 70 racers. Each year, athletes from as far away as Maine have come to participate in Alaska’s largest motorized sporting event. Now entering its 32nd year as the longest, toughest snowmobile race, the Iron Dog will have 37 Pro Class teams of racers from all across North America.Kevin Kastner, Executive Director, Iron Dog, Inc., said: “We’re very excited to have such a broad spectrum of local, national and international racers. The growing diversity adds to the overall interest in snowmobiling and expands the audience of spectators who are discovering what makes this great race across Alaska so incredible.”For 2015, in addition to the usual field of urban area Alaska teams, there are racers from Bethel, Soldotna, Fairbanks, Two Rivers, McGrath, Nome, Kotzebue, Tanana, Idaho, Minnesota, Maine and Alberta Canada. Of the 37 teams and 74 racers, 27 racers are rookies, 10 teams are full-rookie teams, 4 father-son teams, 4 all-brother teams, 8 returning champions and there’s one all female team. The last all female team to compete was in 2011 with the Alaska National Guard team Sgt. Maj. Pamela Harrington and Sgt. Elaine Jackson. In 2001, Jackie Page and Missy McClurg are the only all-female team to have successfully finished this race to-date.Another exciting new racer for 2015 is champion sled dog musher Sonny Linder from Two Rivers, Alaska. Sonny is the first-ever racer to win the Yukon Quest championship and has several top finishes in both the Iditarod and the Yukon Quest sled dog races. “I am excited to run the Iron Dog Race with my son, RT, and get a new perspective on a familiar trail,” said Sonny Linder, “I needed a change of pace.” Sonny certainly has vast mushing experience on the trail, but both he and RT will be racing as rookies in the Iron Dog Pro Class race.Other news for Pro Class racers this year are: (1) Four-time Champion Marc McKenna has a new teammate and is now riding Polaris after recently winning two in a row on Ski-Doo in 2012 and 2013. (2) Bethel racer Steven Boney is now partnered with long-time racer Doug Dixon, Anchorage both riding on Yamaha. (3) Tyson Johnson is now on his 17th Iron Dog, having first started when he was 17 years old. (4) Notably not racing are Scott Davis and Dusty VanMeter. (5) A strong new team to watch is Team #20, Faeo and Quam. (6) Todd Palin is back again with Tyler Huntington. (7) The team with the most enthusiastic fans, from McGrath, Team #12, the Strick Brothers are back again after taking a year off. (8) Team #16 Champions Minnick/Olstad are returning.The week of Iron Dog events begins with the Donlin Gold Iron Dog Safety Expo, to be held at Cabela’s in Anchorage on February 18, 2015.Following is a list of teams who will draw for starting positions during the Hall of Fame Banquet on Thursday, February 19, 2015. Tickets are available online at www.irondog.org or by calling (907) 563-4414.[table id=54 /]
Early bird status means that the team will draw during the first round. 34 teams registered early, leaving only teams #15, #17 and #42 in the second round.
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About Iron Dog, Inc. | 7100 Old Seward Hwy, Ste C, Anchorage, Alaska 99518 USAIron Dog, Inc. is a proud leader in the snowmobile community promoting snowmobile safety and outdoor education through trade shows, seminars and community events. Iron Dog also conducts student exchange programs and has donated $84,000 to Alaska charities since 2011.The Iron Dog race, presented by the Alaska National Guard, is a World Class Snowmobile Event that crosses the State of Alaska each February impacting over twenty-five Alaskan communities. Today’s Iron Dog course is over 2,000 miles, from Anchorage to Nome and finishing in Fairbanks, making it the World’s longest snowmobile race. Participants must traverse areas of Alaska’s most remote and rugged terrain while confronting some of the harshest winter conditions. Survival skills are essential, making it the World’s toughest snowmobile race.Iron Dog 2015 is planned to commence Saturday, February 21, 2015. Visit www.irondog.org for the latest news and schedule of events. For additional information:Kevin Kastner, Executive Director, Iron Dog, Inc.Tel. 907-563-4414E-mail: kkastner@irondog.org