Matthew Failor Wins K-300

New Race Record! Matthew Failor of Willow, AK is this year's Kuskokwim 300 Champion. He crossed the finish line early Sunday morning at 7:02am to become the fastest musher to finish the K300. His total elapsed time was 36:32:33. photo by Greg Lincoln

Matthew Failor is the K-300’s newest champion. Failor, age 36, is from Willow, Alaska where he runs his kennel 17th-Dog. He is originally from Ohio where he grew up with his three brothers – they all earned Eagle Scout honors. Matt is a former handler for Martin Buser. He first ran the Iditarod in 2012 with a team of Buser’s Happy Trails puppies. Since then, he has run the Iditarod every year. He also was a finisher in the Kuskokwim 300 in 2011, placing 9th and was named Rookie of the Year. He is the 2018 K300 Humanitarian Award recipient.