Iron Dog Race Inc. created the Ambassador Team to represent our race, sponsors and to support the communities we travel though by promoting snowmachine safety and education.   

Representing the Iron Dog – breaking trail for the 2025 race and working in communities – in coordination with Alaska Safe Riders to promote topics like the importance of wearing a helmet, safe riding and mechanical skills during the 2025 race are: 

Four-time champion Marc McKenna. McKenna, a racer turned trailbreaker, sponsor and fan, is a lifelong Alaskan and president and co-owner of McKenna Brothers Paving Inc. Marc was inducted into the Iron Dog Hall of fame in 2022, this will be his 19th trip officially on the Iron Dog trail, and his first as an ambassador. 

Aaron Bartel. Bartel a second-generation racer, volunteer and sponsor. Aaron, like his father, started as a racer, “crashing” his way to second place in 2015 with seven-time champion Scott Davis. After breaking his leg in 2018 during the race, he moved onto volunteer and sponsor! His smile is contagious on the trail – fans, volunteers and racers all agree!   

Dan Hall. Hall is a volunteer and employee of longtime sponsor Lynden (President Knik Construction). He is a lifelong Alaskan who’s worked in hundreds of Alaska communities constructing roadways, roads and harbors. Dan’s passion for rural Alaska and his love of the Iron Dog motivated him to become a volunteer most recently at the new Whiskey Bravo Checkpoint  

The Make it Run Program was developed in 2024 to assist in the development of personnel in the trade of small engine and recreational vehicle repairs in rural Alaska. Joining the 2025 Ambassador team are two Polaris employees who echo the importance of this effort and present an example of “what can be.”  

Jill Hetteen, project lead in the Snow Powertrain group with Polaris and engineer Tyler Bentow.   

“Racing and riding has taught me many valuable skills and values, like how to mechanic my own equipment, respect for the sport, trails, land, and clubs, and the value of building relationships and trust with those of us lucky enough to be in the snowmobile community” – Hetteen.  Jill, whose own mother put her on a snowmobile first at the age of nine months, is a mother of two whose husband is launching his Iron Dog career also in 2025, racing in the Pro Class. 

“After high school I attended college at the University of North Dakota and earned my bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and I began my dream job of working at Polaris in Engineering in 2017.” – Bentow.  Tyler, who grew up riding in Minnesota, is expecting his first child in March; he and his wife can’t wait to raise another generation rider.