McGrath, AK (February 14, 2021, 10:30 a.m.) – Pro Class racers rested up at the layover checkpoint in McGrath on Saturday evening and began making their way back on the trail today, another bluebird day for racing. The clear and cold conditions mean racers will be able to amp the throttle to take advantage of ideal visibility and a fast trail. 

The race is shaping up to be a nail biter. 

“I think the biggest thing today is how tight the race is from a time perspective,” said Mike Vasser, Iron Dog’s interim executive director. “Usually by now there is some distance being put between teams, but right now, there’s only 45 minutes between seven to 10 teams. That shows you how competitive this is.”

Day 1 of racing included only one scratch, Vasser added – something that sets a good tone for the days to come. Often, if a problem occurs, it happens quickly. In the 2020 race, for instance, four teams scratched due to injuries, mechanical issues or other problems. 

Brothers Jarvis and Jordan Miller, Team 23 of Nome, scratched out in Puntilla after frustrating mechanical issues. Twenty teams remain on the trail. 

Today’s racing will likely begin to spread the team standings out a bit more, although the next scheduled checkpoint is in Galena. As part of its COVID mitigation plan, racers can hold over in only select checkpoints along the trail – turning Iron Dog 38 into more of a stage race than ever before.

The different format is not without its own challenges, behind the scene, said Jake Goodell, Iron Dog’s GPS and timing official.

“The new race layout with flexible layovers and hold times was confusing the software,” he said. “But we worked on it all night and have it figured out.”

Goodell said the standings may have seemed confusing on Day 1 but are now tracking properly – just in time, as the race heats up!  

 Media Contact: Mike Vasser, Interim  Executive Director, Iron Dog Inc.

                                       (907) 312-6595  •  director@irondog.org