Holmes had a three-hour lead over his closest competitor, Matt Hall, who said he had stopped trying to catch up.

The 53rd Iditarod belongs to Jessie Holmes.The Nenana musher — who made his way to Alaska after growing up in Alabama — dominated the race, leading for much of the way and claiming five of the six major checkpoint awards along the way.

The veteran musher has maintained a consistent lead over Matt Hall and Paige Drobny for much of the past week.

The Interior Alaska musher won his first Iditarod on his eighth try, arriving in Nome with his dog team early Friday.