The Iron Dog Race, Inc., Hall of Fame is dedicated to showcasing the rich and exciting history, along with honoring the men and women of the Iron Dog snowmobile event at both the recreational and competitive levels. The inductees of the 2025 Hall of Fame have provided countless memories as racers and race officials, they have supported our organization and racers financially and though encouragement, and provided industry information since the inception of our race. Their efforts have provided support for the foundation of our race and our sport. 

 This year, the Iron Dog Board of Directors inducted five new members.

“Congratulations to them all, and thank you for all you’ve given the Iron Dog Race.” – Mike Vasser, Iron Dog executive director

Korey Cronquist

Korey Cronquist was fully immersed in snowmachine racing before he ever set foot at the Iron Dog start line. His father had raced, and won, the Top of the World snowmachine race in the mid-1970s, and when his family opened CC Ski-Doo (now Team CC) in 1991, he saw Iron Dog racers come through frequently. It wasn’t long until he became a racer himself. Cronquist competed in his first Iron Dog in 1993 with partner Len Story. In 1999, he earned a third-place podium finish with partner Tyson Johnson. In the early 2000s, he raced with Mark Carr, bettering that podium finish to second place.

When Cronquist stepped away from racing in the mid-2000s, he began focusing on evolving the sport. His unwavering support of racers, and his commitment to developing better products has helped elevate Iron Dog to new heights. As owner of Team CC, he remains a team sponsor and industry informant, helping racers of all levels have success on the course.

“Korey Cronquist has been instrumental to the Ski-Doo brand in many ways. His incredible feedback, technical knowledge and input not only helps us to develop our products but also his strength as a team leader and mentor to the racers is what has built a winning program,” said Carey Daku of Ski-Doo Racing. “The number of racers he has helped over the years is insurmountable. We thank Korey for all his help, and we couldn't be prouder than to see him inducted into the Iron Dog Hall of Fame.” 

It is with pleasure that Iron Dog Race, Inc., honors Korey for his contributions.  

Steve Deptula

Steve Deptula holds the distinction as being part of the inaugural Iron Dog race in 1984 – where he finished an impressive second place with partner and fellow Hall of Famer Scott Davis. After adding the coveted “veteran” status to his list of accomplishments, he continued to serve the Iron Dog race, acting as volunteer trail breaker, board member and team supporter. He has spent more than 35 years in service to the organization.

“The trail breaking was probably my biggest effort over the years,” said Deptula. “Every once in a while, you would pick up an Iditarod marker or something, but it was real rural Alaska in the 1980s. Today, the trail is fairly established, but back then there were years the trail wouldn’t be the same.”

Iron Dog organizers have come to rely on Deptula’s institutional knowledge, and he is a trusted presence each year as the race approaches.

“I don’t know of a week that has gone by since my role as executive director that Steve hasn’t called just to check in or offer an ear,” said Iron Dog’s Mike Vasser. “His support and knowledge have been hugely helpful.”

Deptula is founder of High Performance Auto, and during his early years, he also would help raise money through such efforts as putting on raffles or selling T-shirts and contributing the proceeds to the race.

“Back at the start of Iron Dog, it was pretty tough to make ends meet for these racers, so it all helped,” he said. 

Deptula also is known for making the race a more comfortable ride: “Steve is the mastermind behind what is known as the ‘Iron Dog Bag’ and ‘Iron Dog Seats’ – custom bags and seats making travel on the Iron Dog or in recreational riding lighter and more effective,” noted Iron Dog Board President Doug Dixon.

These days, Deptula can be found out at his cabin in Petersville, putting on more miles on his sled than most people half his age. At age 81, he has not slowed down, continuing to take part in cross-country motorsport treks with lifelong friends he has made through his Iron Dog connections.  

Congratulations, Steve, for all your years of dedicated volunteerism.

 Gary Eoff

Gary Eoff’s name will forever be in the Iron Dog record book as a race champion – a feat he accomplished with partner and Hall of Famer Scott Davis in 1985. It was his one and only Iron Dog race, but one that launched a decadeslong career as trail breaker, volunteer, and race supporter. Eoff is being honored in this year’s Hall of Fame for the dedication he has shown to the sport outside of the rigors of racing.

“Gary is a real example of the tradition of racing in our state, and not to mention one heck of a partner,” Scott Davis said of their one-time win together. “After checking that racing box, Gary moved on to trail breaking for the race, riding everything from Bravos to 121 Cats to finally VK 540 long tracks. After that, he began flying support for teams.”

Eoff said some of his strongest friendships have evolved around the Iron Dog Race, making it easy to volunteer after his racing days were over.

“The one time I raced Iron Dog and won was the highlight of all my racing stuff that I did in the past,” Eoff said. “I’m sure when they write my obituary, that will be a line in there. But I enjoyed the trail break much more than the race.”

For about five years in the late ’80s and early ’90s, Eoff and a group of riders would help establish the trail prior to the race start. 

“Every year, four to six of us would break trail because it was nonexistent,” he said. “Back in the early days, it would take seven days to get to McGrath. When we got better sleds, we could do it in four days.”

Eoff was one of the first pilots to offer race support in the early days of Iron Dog, when sometimes only three or four planes would be flying parts.

“You have friends who are still racing, and you are meeting new people, and you want to stay involved,” Eoff said. “This was a way to do that.”

Eoff assisted countless racers over his 20 years of flying support, helping six teams toward their victories. He said the call that he was being inducted into the Iron Dog Hall of Fame came from out of the blue.

“I’d only raced it once, and there were certainly guys that did way more than me, but it was a very pleasant surprise.”

Thank you, Gary, from Iron Dog Race, Inc., for your many years of contributions.  

Chris Graeber

Chris Graeber has been an Iron Dog fixture since 2007, serving as race marshal from 2007 to 2016. From there she continued to volunteer and has been a team supporter and sponsor to this day. As manager of Hatcher Pass Polaris, Graeber has watched decades of Iron Dog athletes pursue their racing dreams. The Iron Dog board praised her supportive efforts, calling her the “ultimate Iron Dog volunteer, race marshal, sponsor and human.”

“It was very unexpected, and I’m very honored and humbled,” said Graeber upon hearing she was selected for the Iron Dog Hall of Fame. “As a race marshal, I tried to be ethical and run the race right so that it got the respect it deserves. As a volunteer and sponsor, I’ve always been proud to represent Iron Dog. Volunteering is easy when you’re passionate about the sport.”

Graeber’s love of the sport began early, growing up as a child and riding snowmachines out of her family’s cabin in Big Lake.  She began to seriously follow the Iron Dog in 1994 and served locally with such clubs as AMMC before joining Iron Dog as a volunteer.

“I’m very passionate about motorsports,” she said. “This is a true honor.”

Congratulations, Chris, on your much-deserved recognition for all your efforts.

Nate Perkins

Nate Perkins was born and raised in Nome, so he watched the Iron Dog evolve from its very first years to what it is today: the World’s Longest, Toughest Snowmobile Race. 

“When Iron Dog came to town, it was just a normal thing for me to follow because I grew up snowmobiling and it just came natural,” Perkins said. “In 1988, I got actively involved with trail staking; I grew up in the country and knew the area well. I’d help with anything that needed doing.”

Each year, Perkins could be relied upon to help. He began assisting in the garage, escorting racers from the Nome checkpoint to the impound area, and eventually became Nome’s head checkpoint volunteer. He also served as race marshal for three years and continued to help out in Iron Dog headquarters after he retired seven years ago and moved from Nome to Anchorage. 

“I just got to doing the math here the other day, and I was like, ‘It’s been 35 years’ of volunteering,” Perkins said.

Even now, Perkins continues to help as needed, whether it’s at the Safety Expo, tech inspection or setting up/taking down the start line. 

“Snowmobiling has always been a big part of my life; it never gets out of your blood,” he said. “When I got the call from (Iron Dog President) Doug Dixon to let me know that I was going to be inducted, I was very humbled and pleasantly surprised; it’s a pretty big award.” 

“Nate did everything I asked of him,” said retired logistic volunteer and Hall of Fame member Dave McKibbon. “From the late ’80s until he retired, he was the man to call in Nome. He’d step up and volunteer enthusiastically for any Iron Dog role – from trail-marking to checkpoint to race safety – everything to ensure a successful race.” 

Iron Dog Race, Inc., thanks Nate for his long tenure of service to the organization.