The 1,000 mile Iditarod dog sled race - widely considered the toughest contest on earth - has come to an end, with a 28-year-old musher claiming victory for the third time in the last four years. Dallas Seavey managed to beat his 55-year-old father to the finish line in Nome, Alaska, early Wednesday morning with a time of eight days, 18 hours, 13 minutes and six seconds - five hours slower than his record-setting performance last year. In reward for his win, the married father-of-one scored a check for $70,000 and a brand new Dodge SUV valued at $40,000. During the race, Seavey's dogs traveled an average of 7.6mph in temperatures as low as 50 below zero. Apparently the musher had frost in his beard when he pulled up to the finish line, with a windburned face to match. Iditarod winner: Dallas Seavey beat his 55-year-old father to the finish line in Nome, Alaska, early Wednesday morning with a time of eight days, 18 hours, 13 minutes and six seconds . Zapped by the cold: Apparently the musher had frost in his beard when he pulled up to the finish line, with a windburned face to match . An exhausted Seavey, who also won the Iditarod  in 2012 and 2014, petted and hugged his dogs after their victory. 'It takes a whole team to get any of us here,' he told reporters at a finish line ceremony, which was broadcast and live-streamed. Later, he hoisted two of his dogs onto his lap and officials draped the animals with garlands of yellow flowers. 'As long as you take care of the dog team (and) make good decisions, good things will happen. Wins are a result of doing what we love,' Seavey said, adding that he tried to keep the race fun. He said he and his father, Mitch Seavey, who won titles in 2013 and 2004, encouraged each other along the way. The elder Seavey was in second place. Coming up with the goods: In reward for his win, the married father-of-one scored a check for $70,000 and a brand new Dodge Ram truck valued at $40,000 . Team effort: The younger Seavey said he and his father, Mitch (pictured above), who won titles in 2013 and 2004, encouraged each other along the way . Pit stop: Seavey tends to his lead dogs shortly after arriving at the Koyuk, Alaska, checkpoint during the Iditarod race on Monday, March 16 . Dallas Seavey increasingly put distance between himself and the rest of the field during the latter part of the race. He held a 25-mile advantage early Tuesday - a far cry from how he won the race last year. He was running third in the 2014 Iditarod when a freak snowstorm blew the leaders out of the race, and Seavey didn't know he had won the race until a cameraman broke the news to him. The winner's purse increased this year, and the top prize was $19,600 more than what he pocketed for last year's race. 'I'm pretty tired right about now - it's been a tough race,' he said. 'The cold zaps you. The dogs, they're very lively, but it takes a lot of effort to keep them well-fed, keep them rocking and rolling. This is a hard dog team to keep up with.' Aaron Burmeister was running in third place, while Jessie Royer and Aliy Zirkle were battling for fourth. Royer and Zirkle each had attempted to become the first woman to win the race since the late Susan Butcher won her fourth title in 1990. Poor weather south of the Alaska Range this year forced the official start farther north to Fairbanks, on the northern side of the mountains. Not much snow fell south of the range, and officials said the conditions in the normally treacherous Dalzell Gorge were made even more dangerous by a lack of snow. That's the location where many mushers crashed their sleds in 2014, causing many to scratch. Dinner is served: Seavey makes food for his dogs - the canines burn thousands of calories a day on the race . Close shave: Dallas Seavey looks back at Aaron Burmeister, whom he had just passed, as they head into the Koyuk, Alaska, checkpoint . Other comptetitors: Aaron Burmeister was running in third place (pictured), while Jessie Royer and Aliy Zirkle were battling for fourth . A new race route also was created, with much of it run on river ice. The new route allowed new communities to serve as checkpoints, including the Athabascan community of Huslia, famed for its sprint sled dog races. The ceremonial start in Anchorage went on as planned on March 7. Snow had to be trucked in so mushers could navigate paved streets, but there was little snow elsewhere in the city. The snow brought in for the race barely lasted the few hours it was needed because of temperatures nearing 40 degrees and rain. A total of 78 mushers began the race March 9 in Fairbanks. Eight scratched, and one was disqualified. Two dogs have died in this year's race, including one that was hit by a car after getting loose during the ceremonial start. The other dog that died was on the team of four-time champion Lance Mackey.
Dallas Seavey beat his 55-year-old father to the finish line in Nome, Alaska, early Wednesday morning . His time  of eight days, 18 hours, 13 minutes and six seconds was five hours slower than his record-setting performance last year . During the race, Seavey's dogs traveled an average of 7.6mph in temperatures as low as 50 below zero .