Road to Iron Dog Taking Its Toll

Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.A., 25 January 2011The Iron Dog Race has already lost one Pro Class team, one Trail Class team and one Pro Class racer substitution - all due to personal injuries or family related medical issues.Teams #22 and #50 have both scratched before the 2011 race. Additionally, Team #25 had to make a substitution for rider Joe Ulrich of Boca Raton, Florida. Each situation involved some type of medical reason for their withdrawal from the 2011 Iron Dog.Training rides during late December and into early January proved to be rough enough to cause fairly serious chest injuries for racer Joe Ulrich. Joe reluctantly decided to find a substitute rider, Eric Watson of Wasilla, Alaska. Joe has generously stayed involved as a sponsor and will remain in Alaska to provide support for the new Team #25.Pro Class Team #22 hailing from Colorado and Idaho made the decision to scratch their names from the 2011 race due to family medical emergencies."Our bid to race the 2011 Iron Dog has been sidelined by an accident involving a family member," Randy Gravatt of Island Park and Ron Berry of Colorado say in a statement.Another lower 48 team, a Trail Class Team #50 from Colorado, had to make the tough decision to call off their Alaska adventure after Kevin Cox, one of their teammates suffered a foot injury.“After considerable discussion we have decided that to start the ride without Kevin would haunt us for years. He has been a central element in getting ready” Chris Tarr says in a statement.Racers are allowed to substitute one person on the team any time before the racer’s drawing. The 2011 drawing takes place February 12, 2011 during Racer’s Drawing Banquet immediately following the Annual Iron Dog Safety Expo, Tech Inspection held at the Curtis Menard Sports Center in Wasilla, Alaska.