Mat-Su woman to be inducted into Iron Dog Hall of Fame

Hatcher Pass Polaris General Manager and longtime Iron Dog Volunteer Chris Graeber will be inducted into the Iron Dog Hall of Fame at the Iron Dog Awards Ceremony on Feb. 22. Graeber, along with four other inductees, will join a short list of men and women recognized for their commitment to prolong the sport of snow machine racing and preserving the Iron Dog as a world-class event each year.

“There’s some big names that we’ve all idolized that are in the hall of fame,” Graeber said. “And to be recognized with them is surreal.”

Graeber has been involved with the motorsports industry in Alaska for over 30 years. She started working at Hatcher Pass Polaris in 1993 and started following Iron Dog in 1994 when store owner Kenny Kleewein began competing.

Graeber would go on to serve as the Iron Dog Race Marshal from 2007 through 2016. She always tried to provide the best information possible to racers and made sure the race was operating efficiently. Graeber said she was fair with the competitors she interacted with and worked hard to gain their respect.

“All my memories are how honored I was to be race marshal,” Graeber said. “It was always integrity and ethics and making sure that the race was run properly by the rules.”

Still involved with Iron Dog, Graeber helps to administer the Iron Dog Group Facebook page. She fills in where she can, showing up to the race to volunteer where she’s needed. Graeber recalls a fond memory she had watching the finish in 2024.

“One of the biggest standouts last year was watching the finish,” Graeber said. “Cody Barber and Brett Lampham came through on Polaris last year. I’ve known them since they were born…That was kind of a surreal moment watching them come through.”

Polaris would go on to sweep the field in 2024, Graeber said proudly, rounding out the top seven teams of the race.

Along with Iron Dog, Graeber has been a volunteer with the Anchorage Racing Lions Motocross and served in several roles at the Alaska Motor Mushers Club (AMMC Racing). Promoting motorsports in Alaska is important to Graeber, and her hard work will be recognized at this weekend's award ceremony.

“To me, it’s easy to volunteer when you’re passionate about racing in the state of Alaska,” Graeber said.

Other 2025 Iron Dog Hall of Fame Inductees: Korey Cronquist, Gary Eoff, Steve Deptula, Nate Perkins