Iron Dog 2025: Ambassadors arrive in Nome. Pro-class less than 24 hours out
NOME, Alaska (KTUU) - The first round of Iron Dog racers has reached the Nome checkpoint.
The 2025 Iron Dog Ambassador team — the first group of machines to arrive in Nome ahead of Wednesday’s wrench day — pulled into the town just past 6 p.m. Monday.
“It’s the coolest thing I’ve ever done,” Team 99’s Tyler Bentow said.
“By far,” added Jill Hetteen, also of Team 99. “It’s amazing. It hit me about 20 miles to go and I couldn’t get the smile off my face.”
The Ambassador Class, a newer endeavor for the Iron Dog, is designed to promote community outreach. Former racers who once breezed through checkpoints now have an opportunity to take it all in.
“Those guys feed us good, they treat us good,” said Jackson Kinnen, representing Alaska Safe Riders. “All the communities are great. It was amazing.”
The ambassador riders also shared the kind of trail conditions the pros have been dealing with, with many calling the Farewell Burn the worst it’s looked —and felt — in a long while.
“The Burn this year, I guess, is the worst it’s ever been, and we can attest to that,” Bentow said.
“Zero snow,” Hetteen said. “There was a few tiny patches but nothing that you could even get your hands on.”
Monday also saw the following teams scratch:
- Team 13 (Dan Zimmerman, Bob Streiff)
- Team 21 (Cory Davis, Wes Selby)
- Team 25 (Kenney Lee, Trevor Helwig)
Team 8, featuring Tom Davis and former champion Tyson Johnson, has lost a lot of ground as well. The pair went the wrong way leaving Buckland, forcing them to backtrack.
The Pro Class is expected to see racers arrive in Nome starting around noon on Tuesday. Many have made it to the Kotzebue checkpoint, where they will take a mandatory layover before the final push.
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