Barring unforeseen circumstance, Dallas Seavey, a third-generation musher from Willow, Alaska, will become the youngest person to win the historic Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
Seavey, 25, who was the first musher into the White Mountain checkpoint, maintained a commanding lead when he pulled out Tuesday morning, and was expected to cross the finish line at about 6 p.m. to complete the historic 975-mile competition.
In the accompanying video, courtesy of the Anchorage Daily News, Seavey talks about his recipe for success on what is often a grueling competition in harsh elements that test the mettle of mushers and their dogs.
His closest competitor on Tuesday morning was Aliy Zirkle, but she appeared to have been too far back to mount a significant threat.
Among those Seavey will out-pace are his father, Mitch Seavey, who was in seventh place early Tuesday, and his grandfather, Dan Seavey, who was in 55th place and close to the back of the pack.
Dallas Seavey, after arriving at White Mountain, told the Daily News that becoming the youngest Iditarod champion was his goal all along.
"That's been something I've really been working toward for five years now, and now that it's almost a reality is pretty cool."
Not smart to count your chickens 175 miles before they hatch.
It ain't over 'til it's over.
Posted by: RR Urban | Mar 13, 2012 at 10:36 AM