Jeff King and his 11-dog team won the 1,160-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in record time early today, turning what had been a three-way sprint into a solo performance.
The 37-year-old King, of Denali Park, Alaska, crossed under the burl arch that marks the finish line on Nome's historic Front Street at 12:39 a.m. AST, winning in an unofficial time of 10 days and 15 hours.He broke the previous record by more than 4 hours. It was set last year by Martin Buser, who finished in 10 days, 19 hours and 17 minutes.
King set the record despite 10 additional hours of mandatory layovers added this year at the request of animal rights groups.
"It's a great feeling it's been a great race for me. It's a real pleasure," King said minutes after winning.
King earned $50,000 and a new pickup truck for his first-place finish. Dee Dee Jonrowe, 38, of Willow, collects $43,000 for finishing second.