Jason Set for Iditarod 2026 on the Northern Route

Jason Mackey of TopNotch Comeback Kennel is preparing to take on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race once again in 2026, with this year’s event running on the northern route. Coming from one of the most respected families in the history of sled dog racing, Mackey’s return to the trail continues a legacy that helped shape the race itself.

Born into dog mushing, Jason Mackey has spent more than four decades on runners. His father, Dick Mackey, was one of the founders of the Iditarod in 1973 and claimed victory in the 1978 race by a single second. His brothers carried that tradition forward, with Rick Mackey winning in 1983 and Lance Mackey becoming a legend of the sport with four consecutive Iditarod victories from 2007 to 2010. Growing up in that environment, racing dogs was never optional, it was simply life.

Jason ran his first Iditarod in 2004, finishing his rookie year in 26th place. Since then, he has competed in nine Iditarod races, alongside many other long distance sled dog events across Alaska. His experience spans both the highs and lows of the sport, including the devastating loss of his brother Lance to cancer in 2022. That loss has only strengthened Jason’s determination to keep pushing forward. One of his most powerful motivations comes from a moment shared with Lance on Father’s Day, when Lance told him, “Go get them, you can do this, it’s your time.”

For the 2026 race, Mackey will be running a team of dogs that are right in the prime of their careers. His kennel currently stands at around 45 dogs, featuring strong Lance and Jason Mackey bloodlines, combined with lines from Marrs, Osmar, Gebhart and Seavey. Every dog on the team has been raised from birth, and the focus this season has been on consistent, disciplined training on the Interior Alaska trails around Fairbanks, widely regarded as some of the best in the state.

Jason now lives and works in Fox, Alaska, in the North Star Borough, where he is employed by Black Gold Transportation. Being based there allows him to dedicate his time fully to training and conditioning his dogs for the demands of the Iditarod. His wife Lisa, his childhood sweetheart of over 30 years, plays a central role in the kennel, alongside Seane Mackey. Together, they own and operate TopNotch Comeback Kennel.

The 2026 Iditarod presents a clear target for Mackey. He is aiming to better his recent finishes of 16th place in both the 2024 and 2025 races, as well as challenge his personal best time of 9 days, 6 hours, 19 minutes and 23 seconds, set in 2017. With a mature team, deep experience, and renewed drive, Mackey believes this could be a standout year.

As the countdown to March begins, Jason Mackey’s return to the northern route carries both family history and personal meaning. For fans of the Iditarod and supporters of TopNotch Comeback Kennel, 2026 is shaping up to be another chapter in a story that has been woven into the race since its very beginning.