New Veterans on the Trail: Rookies Earn Iron Dog Status in the 2026 Race
Crossing the finish line at the Iron Dog Race means far more than placing on the leaderboard. For many racers, it represents the moment they officially earn Iron Dog Veteran status — a milestone that reflects grit, endurance, and the ability to conquer the world’s longest, toughest snowmobile race.
From lifelong racers to first-time competitors chasing a dream, each rookie brought a unique journey to the start line, and each finished with a hard-earned Iron Dog Veteran title.
6th – Team #17 Gage Schaack (Cold Bay, AK), Ski-Doo (58:52:03)
After a DNF in 2022, Schaack returned determined to finish. A lifelong Alaskan born and raised in Nelson Lagoon and Cold Bay, now living in Eagle River, he balances summer work as a heavy equipment operator with long winter days on a sled. In 2026, he officially earned Iron Dog Veteran status.
7th – Team #40 Jim Baldwin & Quincy Williamson (Noorvik, AK), Ski-Doo (64:56:23)
Representing Noorvik, Baldwin and Williamson brought strong Northwest Alaska roots and deep knowledge of the Kobuk River region into the 2026 race.
Although they had competed in previous Iron Dogs, their 2026 finish — including a top-10 result — officially earned them Iron Dog Veteran status. Raised riding and traveling across remote Alaska, their grounded approach paid off on the trail.
10th – Team #42 Antone Contento (Fairbanks, AK), Ski-Doo (69:45:24)
Fairbanks native Antone Contento grew up watching Iron Dog teams finish in his hometown.
After a DNF in his first Iron Dog attempt in 2025, Contento returned in 2026 determined to complete the race. His perseverance was rewarded with a successful finish and his newly earned Iron Dog Veteran status.
11th – Team #39 Shana Lapham (Willow, AK), Polaris (70:16:07)
Racing alongside her father, longtime Iron Dog veteran Shane Barber, for the first time, Shana became part of a three-generation Iron Dog legacy that dates back to the very first race in 1984. Raised around Hatcher Pass and now living in Willow with her husband and two daughters, Shana’s successful finish made her an official Iron Dog Veteran, adding another chapter to the Barber family’s remarkable racing history.
12th – Team #21 Adam Stafford (Aitkin, MN) & Wyatt Halek-Hooper (McGregor, MN), Arctic Cat (70:26:08)
After a late scratch in the 2025 race, Adam Stafford and Wyatt Halek-Hooper returned in 2026 with renewed focus.
Bringing lifelong racing backgrounds and mechanical expertise, the Minnesota-based duo put together a clean and consistent run across Alaska. Their perseverance paid off with a successful finish and newly earned Iron Dog Veteran status.
13th – Team #44 Eric Sieh & Colton Sieh (Kotzebue, AK), Ski-Doo (70:36:48)
The father-and-son duo from Kotzebue brought deep Northwest Alaska roots into their first Iron Dog together.
With decades of outdoor experience and strong mechanical backgrounds, Eric and Colton Sieh carried family pride onto the trail. Crossing the Fairbanks finish line in 2026 marked the moment both officially became Iron Dog Veterans — a major milestone for the Sieh family and the Kotzebue community.
14th – Team #9 Cole Sabin (Hayward, WI), Polaris (70:38:57)
After first experiencing Iron Dog as part of the 2023 Expedition Class and later battling through a Pro Class DNF in 2024, Cole Sabin returned in 2026 determined to finish.
Born and raised in Hayward, Wisconsin, Sabin has been riding snowmobiles since the age of three, building a lifelong passion for motorsports and the outdoors. When he’s not racing in Alaska, he splits time between sportfishing in the Florida Keys and elk hunting out west — always chasing adventure.
This year, that persistence paid off as Sabin crossed the Fairbanks finish line and officially became an Iron Dog Veteran.
15th – Team #34 David Spain & Jody Payton (Willow, AK), Polaris (73:42:23)
David Spain, a third-generation Alaskan who has been riding since age five, brought a racing background that included previous Iron Dog appearances in 2007, 2017, and 2020. His partner Jody Payton made his Iron Dog debut after years spent freighting along the Yentna River and running barges during the summer.
Together, the duo battled through the 2026 course to earn Veteran status.
16th – Team #23 Adam Gabryszak & Joseph Gabryszak (Willow, AK / Chugiak, AK), Ski-Doo (74:18:58)
Brothers Adam and Joseph Gabryszak grew up along the Yentna River at their family’s remote lodge, where Iron Dog racers passing by were part of everyday life.
Years of backcountry travel, freighting, and teamwork prepared them for their first Iron Dog together in 2026. Crossing the finish line side by side in Fairbanks marked not only a family milestone, but the moment both brothers became Iron Dog Veterans.
17th – Team #20 Blake Taylor (McGrath, AK), Ski-Doo (74:41:06)
Blake Taylor’s Iron Dog journey came full circle in 2026.
Raised in McGrath, Taylor grew up watching Iron Dog teams pass his family home, volunteering at checkpoints, and learning mechanical skills from a young age. Racing the Iron Dog for the first time this season, Taylor finally became one of the competitors he once cheered for — and finished strong, earning Veteran status alongside veteran racer Barney Anselment.
18th – Team #18 Corbin Hollenbeck (North Pole, AK), Polaris (76:17:25)
At just 19 years old, Corbin Hollenbeck is one of the younger racers in this year’s field — but he already brings several years of racing experience.
Born and raised in Alaska, Hollenbeck has been riding snowmachines his entire life and has competed in a variety of races before lining up for the Iron Dog. Racing alongside his teammate and friend, he approached the 2026 event with maturity beyond his years. Crossing the finish line secured his first Iron Dog completion and earned him Veteran status.
A Milestone Year
The 2026 race welcomed 16 new Iron Dog Veterans, racers who proved they could endure the terrain, weather, and miles that define this event.
📸 Photo courtesy of Tracy Try