Cory Davis and Ryan Simons, Team 41, lead the 2017 Iron Dog snowmachine race out of the Tanana checkpoint, and crossed the finish line in Fairbanks on Saturday afternoon for the 2017 Iron Dog championship.
Davis and Simons finish at 1:56.25 Saturday followed by the team of Dusty Van Meter and Chad Gueco.
Davis and Simons were the first team out of Tanana following an early morning disqualification of race leaders Tyler Aklestad of Palmer and Tyson Johnson of Eagle River, Team #8, due to violation of Rule 13.2. Aklestad and Johnson won the 2016 Iron Dog event.
Explanation of Rule 13.2 violation…
The Iron Dog requires racers to receive fuel only in designated checkpoints with very specific rules and procedures. We make one exception for the trail section between Ruby and Tanana because it is the longest distance between checkpoints. It can be difficult for teams to carry enough fuel even with auxiliary tanks under certain trail conditions to make that distance. The rules were written so teams could stage fuel and oil between Ruby and Tanana, but otherwise not allowed to receive any other assistance.
This rule was discussed at length in the drivers meeting before the race. The Lead Marshal read aloud Rule 13.2.1 to all the racers and reiterated that no physical contact with the snowmachines was allowed when fueling in this area by anyone other than the racers, which applies to all other locations with the exception of Nome.
The Marshals found evidence that Team 8 received outside assistance. The crew providing fuel between Ruby and Tanana made physical contact with the racer’s snowmobiles. Rule 13.2.1 is one of the only penalties that is explicitly specified within the rules. The Marshals have determined that Team 8 violated Rule 13.2.1 and 13.2.2. The penalty for those violations is disqualification as specified in Rule 13.2.3.
The Marshals have disqualified Team 8 for violating Rule 13.2.
Aklestad and Johnson plan to appeal the disqualification by race marshals knocking them out of the race overnight. Even though disqualified, Aklestad and Johnson completed the course and reached Fairbanks behind the second-place finishers, Chad Gueco and Dusty VanMeter.
Iron Dog race director Kevin Kastner stated the organization had no choice but to disqualify the first-place team because of a rule governing that section of the trail.
Kastner said the rule specifically prohibits any “physical contact” between the racers and others on that section of the trail and that “participants will be disqualified if any part of this fueling procedure is neglected.” Kastner talked with the race marshals and consulted the board of directors before the marshals released a statement early Saturday on the decision.
Davis and Simons record their first team victory in the 2017 Iron Dog.