Summoned by squeaky toys, feather dusters and usually civilized owners transformed into screaming, arm-waving maniacs, about 125 dachshunds left the starting line and sometimes headed in the right direction Sunday in the Wiener Dog Races at the Nevada State Fair.

Skinner, a 4-year-old "underdog" who lost in the early rounds last year, out-scrambled his short-legged challengers to become the 2008 "wiener."

"He's been chasing rabbits and quail in the back yard, so he's very strong," Skinner's owner, Debbie Smith of Sparks, said after the final race. "But I sure didn't think he'd win."

Runner-up Murphy, last year's champion, was close behind, perhaps half a body length, and made several laps around the race track pushing a soccer ball after the event.