Mackey Defends Iditarod Title

Lance Mackey drives his team to the finish line of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome, Alaska, early Wednesday, March 12, 2007. Mackey won his second consecutive Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, completing the 1,100-mile journey across Alaska in just under 9½ days.

Lance Mackey sits with two of his dogs, Larry, left, and Handsome after winning the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome, Alaska, early Wednesday, March 12, 2008. The 37-year-old throat cancer survivor and 11 dogs crossed the finish line under Nome's burled arch at 2:46 a.m. ADT Wednesday.

Lance Mackey sits with one of his dogs, Handsome, after winning the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race early Wednesday, March 12, 2008 in Nome, Alaska.

Lance Mackey gets a kiss from one of his dogs, Handsome, after winning the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race early Wednesday, March 12, 2008, in Nome, Alaska.

Lance Mackey sits with one of his dogs, Handsome, after winning the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome, Alaska, early Wednesday, March 12, 2008. Mackey won his second consecutive Iditarod, completing the 1,100-mile journey across Alaska in just under 9½ days.

Lance Mackey is greeted by his mother, Kathie Smith, at the finish line of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome, Alaska, early Wednesday, March 12, 2008.

Canadian musher Hans Gatt looks at one of his dogs as Allaryce Agloinga, 10, left, and Anna Prentice, 10, wait for his autograph as he takes a mandatory 8-hour break in the White Mountain, Alaska, checkpoint of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Tuesday, March 11, 2008.

Defending champion Lance Mackey packs his sled as children watch as he gets ready to leave the White Mountain, Alaska, checkpoint of Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Tuesday, March 11, 2008.

Four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King feeds snacks to his dogs during a mandatory 8-hour break in the White Mountain, Alaska, checkpoint of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Tuesday, March 11, 2008.

Defending champion Lance Mackey talks to his lead dog, Larry, as he gets ready to leave the White Mountain, Alaska, checkpoint in the lead of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Tuesday, March 11, 2008.

Four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King, right, replaces the runners on his sled as defending champion Lance Mackey gets ready to leave the White Mountain, Alaska, checkpoint of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Tuesday, March 11, 2008.

Katty Douglas, 6, watches defending champion Lance Mackey put booties on one of his dogs as he gets ready to leave the White Mountain, Alaska, checkpoint to lead the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Tuesday, March 11, 2008.

Defending champion Lance Mackey leaves the White Mountain, Alaska, checkpoint in the lead of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Tuesday, March 11, 2008.

Four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King puts booties on one of his dogs as he gets ready to leave the Unalakleet, Alaska, checkpoint Sunday, March 9, 2008, about an hour behind defending champion Lance Mackey.