Iron Dog racer suffers injuries in accident

McGRATH (AP) -- A two-time champion of the Iron Dog snowmachine race is out of the running this year after breaking his leg and dislocating his hip in an accident on the trail Sunday night.

Evan Booth of Nome was traveling at about 85 mph and was about five miles from McGrath when a hidden log snagged his machine, sending him flying.

''That pretty much brought things to an abrupt stop,'' Booth said from his hospital bed at Alaska Regional Hospital, where he was in traction late Monday night. ''I was in tremendous pain.''

A team of paramedics reached Booth about a half hour after the accident occurred and took him to McGrath, where he was put on a plane and flown to a hospital in Anchorage.

Booth, 32, and racing partner John Faeo, 45, of Wasilla were among the favorites to win this year's Iron Dog. Booth was on a winning team in 1992 and 1994. Faeo is the winningest Iron Dog racer ever, with seven victories.

The two finished third last year.

The 2,000-mile race to Nome and on to Fairbanks started Sunday in Wasilla and should end Saturday morning. A purse of $105,000 will be paid to the top 10 teams, with the winners collecting $25,000.