Aklestad and Olstad hold two-plus hour lead at final Puntilla layover
![Half-way finishers on the sea ice](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Aklestad-and-Olstad-arrive-in-Nome-Photo-from-Davis-Hovey-KNOM-2022-2-1200x800.jpg)
Frontrunners Tyler Aklestad/Nick Olstad, Team 7, are into Puntilla. They will be taking a mandatory 16 hour layover in Puntilla before heading off to finish the race tomorrow morning. Race officials plan to let the race leaders depart just before 6am Saturday.
Nome Common Council Youth Representative highlights public health as primary concern
![Man and teen holding up right hands](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/89ccbqxW.jpg)
Nome-Beltz High School student Paris Hebel serves as the Youth Representative to the Nome Common Council.
Aklestad and Olstad closing in on Iron Dog victory, team 10 and team 6 chasing
![](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2021-Iron-Dog-Finish-in-Big-Lake-Team-14-Casey-Boylan-and-Bryan-Leslie-Towing-Into-Finish-Photo-from-Iron-Dog-James-Wicken-1200x800.jpg)
Tyler Aklestad and Nick Olstad are closing in on the Rohn roadhouse checkpoint as their path to victory in this year’s Iron Dog seems more and more secure. About 20 miles behind them are Brad George and Robby Schachle.
Top four Iron Dog racers hold steady as they close on finish
![team 7 with their snow machines in McGrath](https://knom.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/NYRw6yrw.jpg)
Tyler Aklestad and Nick Olstad had yet to give up their lead in the 2022 Iron Dog by when they pulled into McGrath at 8:04 p.m. on Feb. 24, nearly an hour and a half ahead of second-position racers Mike Morgan and Chris Olds.