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K300 Attracts New And Bigger Sponsorship Contributions For 2020

A musher leaves the starting chute during the 2018 Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race in Bethel, Alaska.
Katie Basile
/
KYUK

Major sponsors have increased their contributions for Bethel’s Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race, and new sponsors have added their support.

Longtime sponsor First National Bank of Alaska has tripled its annual contribution for the 2020 race. That contribution has given the bank naming rights to the annual K300 fireworks show, which explodes in fantastic color following the final K300 musher leaving the starting chute. The bank has named the show the “Lead Dog Light Show, Presented by First National Bank of Alaska.”

Another longtime sponsor, Northern Air Cargo, has also increased its race contributions and will be donating a $500 freight credit to the musher with the fastest elapsed time from Bethel to the Kalskag checkpoint.

Alaska Commercial Co. is contributing a new checkpoint prize. The first musher to arrive at the Aniak checkpoint will receive a $1,000 credit to be used at any Alaska Commercial Co. store.

Two new sponsors have added their support to the K300: Alaska Brewing Company and Arctic Chiropractic. Arctic Chiropractic has contributed a cash donation and massage gift certificate to be auctioned. Also, Arctic Chiropractic and the Yukon-Kuskokwim Fitness Center will team up to provide a “Musher Spa” on the Monday following the race, when mushers are often sleep deprived and banged up from the trail. Mushers will receive free passes to use the fitness center hot tub and receive a free massage.

The K300 purse is the second largest of any Alaska sled dog race, totaling $160,000. The K300 also sponsors shorter, local races and plans to distribute a total of $390,000 this race season, most of that to local mushers.

The K300 race begins January 17, 2020 in Bethel.

Anna Rose MacArthur served as KYUK's News Director from 2015-2022.