The top twenty teams in the 2016 National Guard Iron Dog Snowmobile Race reached the halfway point in Nome on Tuesday, with another ten-plus teams reaching Nome early Wednesday.
The first team into the Nome checkpoint is Tyler Aklestad of Palmer and Tyson Johnson from Eagle River, reaching Nome at 15:34:34 on Tuesday afternoon; followed by Minnick & Olstad, George & Schachle in third and the team of Kasilof’s Dusty Van Meter & Chad Gueco of Wasilla in tenth overall. The team of Soldotna’s Cory Davis and Ryan Simons (Alberta) scratched at the Galena checkpoint due to mechanical issues.
All teams will spend a mandatory rest period in Nome and will have access to their equipment and machines for on the clock “work time”, which will be added to each teams running time.
Wednesday night is the annual Nome Banquet and Ceremonies which will include the awarding of the $10,000 Halfway Prize to the fastest tem into the Nome checkpoint.
Teams will be released from Nome for the push to the Fairbanks finish line; the scheduled finish of the 2,000 mile race set for Saturday afternoon around noon.
