Some of the Iditarod awards are for arriving first at a checkpoint like the Alaska Air Transit Spirit of Iditarod Award, the GCI Dorothy G. Page Halfway Award or the Feast on the Yukon. Other awards are bestowed based on actions or skill demonstrated during the race. Various groups nominate and decide on recipients for these awards. The stories behind these “chosen” awards were shared by the recipients during the presentation. Here is the rest of the story.
Nome Kennel Club Fastest Time from Safety to Nome
Travis Beals and Nicolas Petit covered the 22 mile distance in 2 hours and 44 minutes. In the spirit of Iditarod, the tie was broken by the nose of the first lead dog to cross the finish line. Petit is a five time winner of the award. The Smyth family, including father Bud and sons Ramey and Cim have claimed the award 14 years. Rick and Lance have won the award in 7 races for the Mackey family. Travis received a check for $500…