Iron Dog starts Monday

The Tesoro Iron Dog Snow Machine Race board of directors recently authorized a $92,000 purse, with the winner earning $27,000. The remainder of the cash will be divided up among the top six finishers.

More than 60 teams have entered the race, which starts Monday in Fairbanks.

The 2004 Iron Dog is the 20th running of the world's longest snowmachine race.

The race will start on the Chena River in front of Pike's Waterfront Lodge in

Racers will run from Fairbanks down the Chena River onto the Tanana River, down the Yukon River and over the pass into Unalakleet on the Bering Sea Coast where they turn north to the historic gold rush town of Nome.

Following a short layover the race moves south to Unalakleet and up the Yukon River to Ruby. The trail moves inland passing through McGrath as it heads to Nikolai and across the famous Farewell Burn south to Skwentna and on into the Finish Line at Big Lake.

The race course is over 2,000 miles and racers reach speeds of 100+ miles per hour along the route.

"We are expecting an exciting race this year with a strong line-up of 25 professional teams of two," Tesoro Iron Dog President Curtis Green said. "In addition, 14 Trail Class riders are entered with six going from Fairbanks to Nome and eight opting to run from Nome to Big Lake. Everyone is anxious to go because last years race was cancelled due to unfit trail conditions."

Many past champions are running again including seven time winner John Faeo with his 2002 partner Todd Minnick on Polaris sleds, 2002 Champion Todd Palin teaming up on Arctic Cats with past winner Scott Davis, the 2001 championship team of Ken Lee and Tracey Brassard on Polaris and veteran Champions Evan Booth and Dan Zipay racing on Yamaha's new four-stroke snow machines.

All four major snowmachine manufacturers are represented in the race. Several other veteran teams are joining the race along with 18 rookies, including two 18 year-old racers, Tre West of Nome and Tyler Aklestad from Palmer. The Arctic Cat factory in Minnesota has fielded a six rider team in the Trail Class.