Starting order and tips for getting to the Willow restart

WILLOW — So who’s your pick for this year’s Iditarod?

Defending champ Dallas Seavey is back for another try. Or will Yukon Quest champ Allen Moore repeat Lance Mackey’s stunning feat and win both races in the same year? How about a veteran like Dallas’ dad Mitch? What about Jeff King? That guy seems to be able to pull out victories many years apart. Or how about Aily Zirkle or Ramey Smyth, who placed second and third last year?

Whoever it is, they’re all at the starting line today in Willow, where the race officially begins after its ceremonial start in Anchorage Saturday.

As fans of the race know, there is a fee to park in Willow and typically is a distance from the race start. This year, the race is offering shuttle service from various points in the Valley. Round-trip tickets are $2, free for children under 12. Here’s the schedule heading to Willow:

• Wasilla High School: 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12, 12:15, 12:45 and 1 p.m.

• Menard Sports Complex: 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and noon

• Houston High School: 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., noon and 12:30 p.m.

• Talkeetna Sunrise Restaurant: 11 a.m. and noon

Returning shuttles will depart Willow at 4, 5 and 6 p.m. and will make stops at Houston and Wasilla high schools and the sports complex. The shuttle to Talkeetna leaves at 4 and 6 p.m.

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.

Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Starting Order

1. Jan Newton, the 2013 honorary musher; 2. Martin Buser, Big Lake; 3. Scott Janssen, Anchorage; 4. Jodi Bailey, Chatanika; 5. Lance Mackey, Fairbanks; 6. Ken Anderson, Fairbanks; 7. Michelle Phillips, Tagish, Yukon Terriotry; 8. Newton Marshall, St. Anne, Jamaica; 9. Kelley Griffin, Wasilla; 10. Peter Kaiser, Bethel; 11. Paul Gebhardt, Kasilof; 12. Jason Mackey Sr., Wasilla; 13. John Baker, Kotzebue; 14. Paige Drobny, Fairbanks; 15. Charley Bejna, Addison, Ill. ; 16. Nicolas Petit, Girdwood; 17. Cindy Gallea, Wykoff, Minn.; 18. Jeff King, Denali; 19. Dallas Seavey, Willow; 20. Kristy Berington, Kasilof; 21. Gerry Willomitzer, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory; 22. Travis Beals, Seward; 23. Robert Bundtzen, Anchorage; 24. Aaron Burmeister, Nome; 25. Kelly Maixner, Big Lake; 26. Jan Steves, Edmonds, Wash.; 27. Aily Zirkle, Two Rivers; 28. DeeDee Jonrowe, Willow; 29. Karin Hendrickson, Wasilla; 30. Jessie Royer, Darby, Mont.; 31. Anna Berington, Kasilof; 32. Joar Lleifseth Ulsom, Roros, Norway; 33. Michael Suprenant, Chugiak; 34. Justin Savidis, Willow; 35. Mike Williams Sr., Akiak; 36. Mitch Seavey, Seward; 37. Christine Roalofs, Anchorage; 38. Ramey Smyth, Willow; 39. Rudy Demoski Sr., Wasilla; 40. Angie Taggart, Ketchikan; 41. Ed Stielstra, McMillan, Mich.; 42. Linwood Fiedler, Willow; 43. Bob Chlupach, Willow; 44. Jake Berkowitz, Big Lake; 45. Curt Perano, Queenstown, New Zealand; 46. Michael Williams Jr., Akiak; 47. Luan Ramos Marques, Macae, Brazil; 48. Allen Moore, Two Rivers; 49. Gerald Sousa, Talkeetna; 50. Mike Ellis, Two Rivers; 51. Cim Smyth, Big Lake; 52. Ray Redington Jr., Wasilla; 53. Louie Ambrose, St. Michael; 54. Jessica Hendricks, Two Rivers; 55. Josh Cadzow, Fort Yukon; 56. David Sawatzky, Healy; 57. Wade Marrs, Wasilla; 58. Aaron Peck, Bezanson, Alberta; 59. Jim Lanier, Chugiak; 60. Cindy Abbott, Irvine, Calif.; 61. Matt Failor, Big Lake; 62. Brent Sass, Manley Hot Springs; 63. Mikhail Telpin, Yanrakkynot, Russia; 64. Matt Giblin, Big Lake; 65. Richie Diehl, Aniak; 66. James Volek, Big Lake ; 67. Sonny Lindner, Two Rivers;