In the closest finish in the history of the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race, Hugh Neff, a veteran musher from Tok, Alaska, captured his first career victory early this morning.

Crossing the finish line shortly after 5 a.m., Neff was just 26 seconds ahead of Allen Moore, a veteran from Two Rivers, Alaska.

The victory was a long time coming for Neff, who was running in the 20th 1,600-kilometre race of his career.

After placing third in last year's Quest and second in 2009, Neff left the Braeburn checkpoint 42 minutes behind Moore.

Neff credited his familiarity with the trail and the will of his dogs in securing the victory and overcoming the time difference.

"I've been on this trail quite a bit and I know every inch of it,” he said.

"For every hill, even if it was only a couple centimeters in elevation, I would be running and I knew where to snack the team and where to take it easy.”

Before leaving the Braeburn checkpoint, he said a penalty against him wasn't a major concern.

"Sound familiar? It's like déjà-vu all over again,” he said. "It's just Hugh Neff karma.”

In the 2009 race, Neff was charged a two-hour penalty for racing off the trail.

He went on to place second in that race, losing to Sebastian Schnuelle by four minutes. Until this morning, it was the closest finish in Quest history.

Neff said his past results in the Quest gave him all the motivation he needed.

It was Neff's 12th attempt at the race. He was humble and gracious in the victory, opting to be philosophical rather than resentful of past issues.

"We're taught, that we all want to win and be champions and all that,” Neff said.

"But for me, coming in first is not what it's all about. It's about what you do when you do well in life.

"Even if I came in second, I wouldn't have cared; I was having fun out there and Allen's a buddy of mine. He won this race just as much as I did.”

Moore, who was the first to arrive at the halfway point of the race in Dawson City, said it came down to the speed of the dogs.

"It was exciting. That's the best kind of race, when you're back and forth,” he said.

"I ran about as good a race as I could run. His dogs were just a little bit faster – that's what made the difference.”

One dog, in particular, stood out for Neff: his leader, seven-year-old Walter.

Neff teared up when talking about the dog.

"Everyone talks about Silver (Brent Sass' dog), but I've always known there's only one Walter, and he's the man.”

Neff arrived at the checkpoint with another dog, Gringo, in his sled basket.

"I had to bag Gringo about five miles out,” he said. "Sometimes when you pack a dog, you actually go faster, and I got lucky this time.”

Moore and Neff had been travelling closely since the beginning of the race, and Moore said one mistake could have changed the final result.

"Since the race started, it's been that way with us; we've been camping right together, we've been doing everything together and turns out we're together at the finish,” he said.

"It could have went either way: one mistake and either one of us could have won.”

Neff completed the race, which began Feb. 4 in Fairbanks, in nine days, 17 hours, 14 minutes and 49 seconds.

He spoke proudly of traversing the historic Quest trail.

"The Quest not only captures the spirit of the North but the history of the North,” he said.

"Whenever I'm out on that trail, I always think of all the amazing people that have been out on the trail, and it gives me motivation.”

He said earning his first career victory in Whitehorse was a special feeling.

Neff will collect $28,395 for winning the 29th Quest.

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