Todd Palin and Scott Davis drop out of Iron Dog race

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The team of Todd Palin and Scott Davis have dropped out of the Iron Dog endurance snowmobile race after Davis was injured on the course, ADN reports:

A back injury to Scott Davis of Soldotna, the most experienced driver in the 27th Iron Dog snowmachine race, has forced him and partner Todd Palin to scratch at Puntilla Lake in the Alaska Range.

Iron Dog development director Heidi Griffin said the injury happened about 30 miles past the checkpoint at Rainy Pass on Sunday night, and the two returned to the checkpoint.

She did not know the nature of Davis' injury and expected further updates later Monday.

Warmer temperatures than normal in Alaska have resulted in less than ideal trail conditions, with stretches of dirt where the snow has melted on some stretches of the trail.

Update: Gov. Palin tweeted:

"Rough&tough trail,Team#22 made gallant effort;broken parts have 'em now cheering on rest of IronDoggers still in race!Great job,great sports"

She didn't specify if the broken parts were mechanical, human or both, but the tone of her tweet implies that Scott Davis' injury may not be as bad as some of us had feared.

- JP