Buser wins the race

NOME -- After a fast and furious final push to Nome, Big Lake's Martin Buser captured his fourth Iditarod championship Tuesday morning and, in the process, became the first musher in history to finish the race in less than nine days.

Buser's record time of 8 days, 22 hours, 46 minutes and 2 seconds broke the nine-day barrier for the first time in race history. For years, the "eight-day race" has been talked about, but never accomplished. Until Tuesday, that is.

Ramy Brooks of Healy finished second, and his time would have bettered four-time champion Doug Swingley's previous race record as well.