Two more teams have entered into the 2018 pro class for the Iron Dog snowmachine race, bringing the final count to 29 teams. Registration for the more than 2,000-mile event closed last Tuesday.
Of the 58 registered competitors, 24 of them are rookies, including former Nome resident Casey Perkins and his racing partner Dale Bennett. Also on the rookie list is the only all-female team competing in this year’s Iron Dog, Rachel Kidwell and Ashley Wood.
Other 2018 Iron Dog racers with ties to Nome are Mike Morgan and James “Tre” West. Morgan will sport bib #10 alongside teammate Chris Olds, while West has registered under #7 with Aaron Bartel.
Back again this year, after being unavailable in the 2017 race, is the Iron Dog trail class. Five teams, featuring twelve riders, are signed up to race in the non-competitive division.
The 2018 Iron Dog official start is February 17th, with trail class racers beginning a day earlier.
Image at top: Snowmachines crowd Nome’s city garage for an Iron Dog “wrenching” repair session in 2016. Photo: Emily Russell/KNOM.
