With the Yukon Brewing Copper Haul Twister League set to kick off in November, dog mushers will have the opportunity to participate in the final dryland race of the season.

The Growler Dryland race will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. on Mile 4.5 Mayo Road and will officially wrap up this year's Hot Hounds season.

"I am really looking forward to it," said Jonathan Lucas, organizer of the Hot Hounds race season. "The weather doesn't look like it is going to be icy, it's not planning to rain, so we are either going to have a firm gravel course or we are going to have some snow."

This is the latest month that a dryland race has ever been held in the series. In 2007, the Hot Hounds season featured four races, which concluded in September. Sunday's race will be the third hot hound race of the year.

Lucas said icy conditions would be the only thing to prevent Sunday's race from occurring, adding if it there is an inch or two of snow on the ground participants will be given the option to use a sled with three dogs. Normally racers compete using bikes, scooters or on foot.

Participants in the Growler Dryland race can check the blog site at www.copperhaultwister.blogspot.com Saturday afternoon and evening for updates on racing conditions.

Sunday's event will use the same format as the two other dryland races. It will feature four racing categories, including a one pet dog one mile, a one sled dog one mile, a two sled dogs two miles and a formula one two mile race.

There will also be a post race potluck on Sunday.

The race is called the Growler because Yukon Brewing is one of the main sponsors and are providing some Growlers as prizes.

Other sponsors include Dazhaw Du Chiropractic, which donated ointments for sprained muscles and sore joints, which can be used on either people or dogs. The remaining sponsors are Aurora Booties, Icy Waters Ltd. and Eagle Pack Dog Food.

Participation in one of the categories costs $10 and those interested can just show up on Sunday. The two previous races have been very well attended and have averaged more than 20 teams.

The Hot Hounds season is a fundraiser for Copper Haul Twister League. So far the series has raised more than $400, which will be used for December's Reach for the Sky and Take the Beer poker run. Both Yukon Brewing and Air North are major sponsors of the poker run, which this year will have a cash purse of $1,100, with the winning musher receiving $500. The poker run will start at Icy Waters, go over Mt. McIntyre and then work its way back down again.

The format gives all participants an equal chance of finishing in first, regardless of the quality or quantity of the dogs used.

Participants will be given a card at the start line and as will receive four more cards, with the final one being presented at the finish line. The musher with the best poker hand will be dubbed the winner. The only stipulation is that mushers have to finish the course in three hours to be eligible to win the poker run.

This year's Copper Haul Twister League will have six races, starting in mid-November. To be eligible for league competition, participants must compete in at least three races and volunteer for one. Points are awarded for top finishes, including 10 for first.

The winner of the league is given $250 from Yukon Brewing as well as the honour of having his or her name engraved on the Copper Haul Twister League trophy.

Heading into the 2008-09 season, Lee Kirkpatrick is currently the two-time defending champion of the Copper Haul Twister League.