Experience, preparation, and consistency define the teams shaping the 2026 Iron Dog

Every Iron Dog has its storylines. Some are written by weather, others by equipment, and many by decisions made when fatigue sets in and the trail stops being forgiving. No one can predict how the World’s Longest, Toughest Snowmobile Race will unfold, but the same traits tend to surface when the field starts to separate.

As the 2026 Iron Dog approaches, several teams stand out not because of bravado, but because of what they have shown over time: preparation, pacing, resilience, attention to detail, and respect for the race. These are not guarantees, only signs that these teams have positioned themselves well for what lies ahead.

Team 3: Steffen Booth & Evan Barber

Steffen Booth on the left, Even Barber on the right

Steffen Booth and Evan Barber bring a blend of youth and experience that sharpens each season. Both grew up in Alaska’s snowmachine culture and understand that speed alone is never enough. Barber, just 21, already has multiple Iron Dog starts and top five finishes. Booth brings a legacy mindset shaped in Nome and a deep respect for what the race demands. Their strength is steady progression and the patience to learn, mile by mile.

Team 6: Mike Morgan & Bradley Kishbaugh

Team 6 at 2025 Finish, courtesy of Tracy Try

Mike Morgan and Bradley Kishbaugh reflect the difference between finishing and competing. With Morgan a two-time champion, their approach centers on preparation well beyond race week. Morgan emphasizes that detail, experience, and the ability to hold a winning pace for 2,500 miles separates top teams. He points to consistency as the real edge, minimizing mechanical issues and mistakes while staying fully in control. Kishbaugh, racing since 2009, brings a win-first mindset tempered by the reality that patience matters, and recklessness does not last long.

Team 7: Tyler Aklestad & Nicholas Olstad

With deep combined experience, Tyler Aklestad and Nicholas Olstad bring one of the strongest knowledge bases in the field, including multiple wins between them. Aklestad stresses confidence built through training, while accepting that unexpected problems are part of the race. Their advantage is knowing when to push and when to preserve body and machine. Since teaming up in 2020, they have refined training and execution, focusing on running their own race with discipline over days of pressure.

Team 10: Chris Olds & Ryan Sottosanti

Chris Olds is a proven champion whose longevity comes from adaptability. Paired with Ryan Sottosanti, the team combines veteran awareness with evolving strategy. Olds’ success has rarely been about overpowering the trail, but reading it and choosing when to press or protect. Their strength is clean execution, avoiding the slow build of small mistakes that can decide the final outcome.

Team 14: Casey Boylan & Bryan Leslie

Casey Boylan and Bryan Leslie keep building momentum through methodical racing. They manage long days without forcing the issue and tend to benefit when attrition reshapes the standings. Their calm pace reflects a core Iron Dog truth: competitiveness is often earned through restraint.

Team 5: Zack Weisz & Thomas Davis

Zack Weisz and Thomas Davis arrive focused on fundamentals and progression. Their attention to reliability, conditioning, and consistent pace mirrors the habits shared by many successful Iron Dog finishers. Teams like this are often still moving forward when the race tightens.

Team 41: Haakon Wold & Tyler Reese

Haakon Wold and Tyler Reese continue to outperform expectations tied to age. Their finishes reflect maturity under pressure, steady communication, and smart adaptation when conditions change. They show that Iron Dog experience is not measured only in years, but in decisions made when the trail is unforgiving.

What It All Means

Iron Dog has never been about predicting winners. Weather shifts, machines fail, fatigue clouds judgment, and the field changes mile by mile. What these teams share is readiness, the discipline to prepare, the humility to respect the course, and the resilience to keep moving when plans unravel.

In the end, Iron Dog remains what it has always been: everyone starts equal, the trail decides the rest, and finishing is earned. As 2026 unfolds, these are teams to watch not because they are expected to win, but because they understand what it takes to stay in the race when it matters most.

Racers to Watch