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Iron Dog Leaders Jostle for Position Near Tanana, Ruby

February 24, 2012|By Chris Klint and Jeff Rivet | Channel 2 News

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Iron Dog snowmachine race leaders Marc McKenna and Dusty VanMeter held on to the lead they took en route to Nome Tuesday,becoming the first racers into Tanana Friday as the 2,000-mile race approaches a Saturday finish in Fairbanks.

According to race officials, Team 17 drivers McKenna and VanMeter pulled into Tanana at 2:13 p.m., followed by Team 6 drivers Tyler Huntington and Tre West at 3:01 p.m. and Team 2’s Ryan Sottosanti and Andrew Zwink at 3:08 p.m. Many teams are wrapping up mandatory 10-hour layovers after arriving in Ruby Friday morning, promising a competitive field during the night.

As of 4 p.m. Friday, the Iron Dog’s standings page listed the following top five teams, although race officials said positions were being updated:

1.      Team 17, McKenna and VanMeter, into Tanana at 2:13 p.m.
2.      Team 6, Huntington and West, into Tanana at 3:01 p.m.
3.      Team 2, Sottosanti and Zwink, into Tanana at 3:08 p.m.
4.      Team 16, Minnick and Olstad, into Ruby at 12:50 p.m.
5.      Team 10, Morgan and Olds, en route from Ruby to Tanana

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Friday afternoon also brought the race’s total count of scratched teams to seven, as Team 9 drivers Darrick Johnson and Donald West reported to the local clinic in Nulato after Johnson suffered three broken ribs and internal bleeding in a wreck on the trail. Johnson was flown to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage for treatment.

KTUU.com will carry a live stream of the race’s finish in Fairbanks and announce it beforehand.

Check KTUU.com’s special Iron Dog section for constant updates from the trail, as well as video clips of our coverage and special photo galleries including shots of the race start and your images of the race.

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