February 22, 2025

2025 Iron Dog - Day 8 Update

Racers began leaving the Whiskey Bravo checkpoint at 8am, Team 20 with a 46-minute lead over their pursuers, Casey Boylan and Bryan Leslie of Team 14. Take note of teams in position 6, 7, and 8 with just under 3 minutes separating those 6 racers.

Ultimately Brad George and Robby Schachle were too dominant out front on their Ski-Doo sleds, not yielding any trail to the following teams to secure the 2025 Championship. Finishing with a course time of 53:32:56, averaging over 46mph the entire distance, Team 20 put on an incredible and relatively uneventful performance (less the crash just outside of Nome) across the 2,503 miles of this year's course and will each go home with a good chunk of prize money as well!

In an incredible recovery despite overcoming some serious setbacks, Mike Morgan and his racing partner Bradley Kishbaugh arrived in Big Lake in fourth position with a total course time of 58:45:56. Finishing under tow, this race doesn't give anyone a break until you get to the checkered flag. Here you can see Bradley Kishbaugh completely missing the track under his sled

Rookies of the year for 2025 went to the Nome boys of Team 4. Wilson Hoogendorn and Bubba McDaniel had a strong freshman showing for their first foray into the Iron Dog claiming 6th position with a course time of 62:22:20

Iron Dog Team 11 took a great video of what the racers had to endure through the Farewell Burn yesterday afternoon into last night on the way toward the mandatory hold at Whiskey Bravo. Doing that section once was a challenge, doing it twice probably meant it was one too many times.

Team 3, Skyler Wells and Kenny Kleewein finished in 62:42:11 securing 8th position, skidding across the finish line under tow with one of the sleds sporting a severely damaged track. Commenters reported that one of their tracks looked to be in poor condition all the way back in McGrath.

Continued degradation of the track between McGrath, through the Farewell Burn, and on toward Big Lake resulted in it completely failing coming into Big Lake. Once the track ripped it sent a track stud through the cooler, drained the coolant from the machine, and burned the motor down.

Team 19's track was hanging by a literal thread at the finish line as well but moving under each machines own power. Barber/Moore picked up a 7th place finish with a course time of 62:29:51

I couldn't find any confirmation, but it appears that adding to the list of carnage for the last days relatively short jaunt to the checkered flag was Team 24 Clayton/Gurley who were forced to finish under tow as well.

We were really hoping for better news from the last remaining Arctic Cat team but after digging farther into their motor issues, things went from bad to worse. From their page they reported 'Well we made a decision as a team to scratch. We kicked it around and around with the running conditions on the other sled replicating the one that went down, and I don’t think it’s far behind. We have parts to fix one but not both. After ruby you're on your own through some of the rougher parts of the course. Me and Adam are dumb but not stupid, so we took the high road to call it.'

We'd like to give a huge shout-out and thanks to all the race volunteers from start to finish. Year after year the efforts of literal hundreds of people volunteering their time and resources is what make this race a reality for anyone wanting to compete, watch, cheer, and keep the tradition alive.

Congrats to all the racers this year, I'll never grow tired of seeing how incredible this contest ends up being every single time. Every year it's a bit different, and every year it's amazing to watch. Here's to 2026!

Leave a comment