Redington mushed on ahead when Kaiser rested at the Elim checkpoint, putting him in to the next checkpoint, White Mountain, with a four-hour lead. In the end, it was more than enough.

Redington's grandfather Joe Redington was one of the founders of the iconic adventure race, created to commemorate the 1925 Serum Run, which involved a series of dog teams transporting much-needed medicine to children in Nome. He and his wife, Violet, and Dorothy Page spearheaded efforts to create the race, helping raise the necessary funds and creating the route. He competed in the race that he helped create 17 times; his highest finish was 5th place. He died in 1999.

As part of his winnings, Ryan Redington got a bronze statue of his grandfather. He was one of six members of his family to have finished the Iditarod since the race began. A few had finished in the top 10, but none had ever won, until Ryan did. He is the first former Junior Iditarod winner (claiming victory in that event in 1999 and 2000) to also win the prestigious longer race.