Big Lake musher Martin Buser is 1998's selection to the Anchorage Daily News Iditarod Hall of Fame.

''He's won three times, he's won three times with universal acclaim for dog care,'' said selection-committee member Doug O'Harra.

In fact, the 39-year-old Buser has won more dog-care awards, four, than races. He won both awards last year. In addition to his three first-place finishes, Buser has finished in the top 10 eight times. Since his first race in 1980, he has won more than $300,000 in purses.

This record might have been enough to secure a place among the race's premiere figures. But there's also Buser's winning personality. If you set out to build a spokesman for long-distance dog racing, you'd end up with Martin Buser.

''Even in nasty situations, he still manages to be friendly to people,'' said selection committee member Maureen Clark.

Buser was born in Winterthur, Switzerland, and got involved in European dog racing as a teenager. He first visited Alaska to run the Iditarod in 1980. He found on his return that Switzerland was just too crowded for him, so he returned to Alaska and settled near Big Lake.

''Six million people in such a tiny little country,'' Buser said in a 1989 Daily News article. ''Six million people. No space. Here or in Trapper Creek or in Willow there is five miles of elbow room. It's just so easy to get used to. I can run from here to Nome without crossing a road.''

In addition to breeding dogs -- his Happy Trails Kennel is among the sport's most successful -- and racing, Buser regularly goes into rural schools to talk about his life and his sport.

''He gets involved in the community,'' said selection committee member Jim Jager. ''He's more or less universally admired.''