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SPORTS Thursday 14 March 2019
Iditarod winner's journey began as a boy racing sled dogs

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) summer jobs on top of
— A young Pete Kaiser had managing the kennel.
the drive to learn about Sled dog races don't have
racing sled dogs and the lucrative jackpots — Kaiser
family and community to picked up about $50,000
support his passion. Years and a new truck for winning
later, he won his first Iditar- the world's premier compe-
od Trail Sled Dog Race. tition. The prize money is
Growing up, Kaiser had down about $20,000 from
plenty of sled dogs to what the 2017 winner re-
choose from at his parents' ceived.
kennel in Bethel, a rural This year's race was marked
community in southwest by the stunning collapse
Alaska. He got his first taste of Frenchman Nicolas Pe-
of success as a senior in tit, who was seemingly
high school when he won headed for victory as late
a 65-mile (105-kilometer) as Monday. He had a five-
race. From there, the com- hour lead until his dog team
petitions and prizes kept stopped running.
getting bigger. Petit said one dog was
On Wednesday, the picking on another during
31-year-old captured the a rest break, and he yelled
crowning glory in the sport, at the dog to knock it off. At
the Iditarod, a grueling test that point, the entire team
against the wildest terrain refused to run. He had to
Alaska has to offer. Kaiser Peter Kaiser (9) poses with his lead dogs, Morrow, left, and Lucy., Wednesday, March 13, 2019, in withdraw.
crossed the finish line in the Nome, Alaska, after winning the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Fifty-two mushers began
Gold Rush town of Nome Associated Press this year's race. Petit was
after beating back a chal- among 10 who withdrew.
lenge from the defending said in a post-victory inter- and drummers performed from helping out when I The 2019 race came during
champion, Joar Ulsom of view televised from the fin- near the finish line as they was in Bethel feeding my a bruising two-year stretch
Norway. ish line. waited for Kaiser to arrive, dogs to eventually whip- for the Iditarod that includ-
Ulsom finished the race Kaiser became the fifth even though it was past 3 ping my butt in the Kusko ed a dog doping scandal
just 12 minutes after Kaiser, Alaska Native and first a.m. 300, so he's a quick study." and the loss of national
who took 9 days, 12 hours, Yupik musher to win the Kaiser called the support Kaiser, who counts Iten as sponsors amid protests by
39 minutes and 6 seconds world's most famous sled "extremely humbling, and his mentor, went on to win animal rights activists.
to complete the 1,000-mile dog race. it motivates me every day four Kuskokwim 300 races. People for the Ethical Treat-
(1,600-kilometer) journey Veteran Iditarod musher to perform to my best, and "It just couldn't be better," ment of Animals is the big-
over two mountain ranges, Mike Williams Sr. has been I just want to thank them for Iten said of Kaiser's Iditarod gest critic.
along the frozen Yukon Riv- friends with the Kaiser fam- coming out here tonight." victory. "We've been wait- "Hundreds of dogs (includ-
er and across the treacher- ily and watched Pete's ca- When he was young, Kai- ing for this. There's been no ing six from Pete Kaiser's
ous, wind-swept Bering Sea reer progress. His victory ser went to races like the doubt in my mind that he team) were so sick, ex-
coast. lifts up not only the Yupik Kuskokwim 300, an annual was going to get it sooner hausted, or injured that
It's Kaiser's first Iditarod vic- people but all southwest mid-distance race in Beth- or later." they were pulled from the
tory in his 10th try. He said Alaska, Williams said. el, to learn everything he Dogs are in the Kaiser fam- race, forcing the ones re-
he wasn't sure what made "It's going to make 35,000 could from the mushers. ily's blood. Pete's father, maining to work even hard-
everything come together people proud," Williams That includes Ed Iten, a vet- Ron, raced dogs for a few er, struggling on in what is
for him this year. said. "I think he's going to eran musher whose best years and then kept an ac- a grueling test — not of hu-
"Just years of knowledge be a great representative Iditarod finish was second tive kennel. His mother, Ja- man endurance but of a
gained and trying to put it for us." place in 2005. net, managed the Kuskok- dog's ability to survive ex-
all together to have a bet- A large group of residents "He was a young boy wim 300. treme cruelty," PETA Execu-
ter race, better dog team from Bethel, Kaiser's home- then and came over and Kaiser, who is married with tive Vice President Tracy
this year — every little de- town, flew in to see his vic- helped me feed the dogs," two children, mushes in the Reiman said in a statement
tail coming into play," he tory. Alaska Native dancers Iten said. "Then he went winter and gets seasonal after Kaiser's victory.q
Tony Stewart headlines new nominees for NASCAR Hall of Fame

By JENNA FRYER short-track racer Jim Pas- outstanding contributions Three new nominees were dy, who is listed among 13
AP Auto Racing Writer chal and mechanic Red to the sport. It meant Ja- added to the Landmark track owners and operators
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Vogt as the new nominees. net Guthrie was eliminated Award list and they were with voting power.q
Three-time NASCAR cham- Kirk Shelmerdine, crew chief from the list after one year. Edsel Ford II of Ford Mo-
pion Tony Stewart head- for four championships with Guthrie was the first woman tor Co., Pocono Raceway
lined the six new nominees Hall of Famer Dale Earn- to compete in the India- founder Dr. Joseph Mattioli
eligible for induction into hardt, was dropped from napolis 500 as well as the and Mike Helton, the first
the NASCAR Hall of Fame. the ballot after only one Daytona 500, and her sixth- non-France family mem-
Stewart joined Neil Bonnett, year. There are 20 nomi- place finish at Bristol Motor ber to be named NASCAR
a popular member of the nees and five are elected Speedway in 1977 is shared President.
"Alabama Gang," two-time each year. with Danica Patrick for the The 24-person nominating
Xfinity Series champion NASCAR also announced top finish by a female in committee includes eight
Sam Ard, former Daytona three new nominees for the NASCAR's top series in the NASCAR executives, as
500 winner Marvin Panch, Landmark Award given for modern era. well as Lesa France Kenne-