Nick, Starr Spangler Win "Amazing Race"

Siblings Take $1M Top Prize In 13th Season Of CBS Reality Show

(CBS/AP)  It's been an "Amazing Race" indeed for Nick and Starr Spangler.

The brother-and-sister team took first place and the reality show's $1 million top prize in the finale, which aired Sunday on CBS.

"I don't think I could race with anyone else other than Nick," Starr told Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith Monday. "We just were a great balance for each other. You've gotta have a teammate that you can do that push-and-pull with. It's exhausting, and any racer will tell you, at the end of it, you're ready to go home and call it a day."

"Honestly, you just -- it has to be Kismet for the team that wins," Nick observed to Smith. "You just have to have the right balance of, you know, luck, strength, mental ability, and it all came together for us."

"When we were in that cab going to the finish line," Starr added, "we had a pretty good idea that we were in first place and it was amazing just to make it all the way through the race."

"Funny, watching it back," Nick continued. "We just hugged each other and we couldn't believe it."

The duo charged through the last leg of the global race in Portland, Ore. They balanced on a beam high in the air, descended a zip line from 2,000 feet, and solved a complex puzzle.

They then searched throughout the city for clues to where the finish line was, before frantically hailing a taxi to it.

After crossing it, the siblings hugged. Starr told her brother: "You're my best friend. I love you."

Nick, 22, said he was proud of his sister, who is a year younger.

"She's been unbelievable on this race," he said. "More than $1 million, more than being the winners of 'The Amazing Race,' I love the experience that I've gone through with my sister, and I've loved seeing her succeed so greatly."

A married-but-separated couple, Ken and Tina Greene, finished a close second. They cried as they put their wedding rings back on.

"Let's start this thing over again, and we'll do it right this time," said Ken Greene, a former pro football player.

"The race, we knew going in wud either make or break our relaitonship," Greene remarked to Smith. "And we felt like it fortified it. And we had our moments! Not just one. We had several. ... It bonded us, made us stronger togetehr."

In the 13th season of "The Amazing Race," contestants logged nearly 40,000 miles on a trip that took them through Brazil, Bolivia, New Zealand, Cambodia, India, Kazakhstan and Russia.

[avigil2]

This show has "jumped the shark" (descended into a inferior version of itself)--especially with this final episode...the final tasks should have been much more challenging and competitive. - posted by frodflor

What are you talking about? That last challenge where they had to match up photos on the board from past countries was pretty difficult. It''s still the best reality show on television.

[pamnangel-2009]

I would also like to know where Dallas & Toni were?...I was looking forward to seeing Dallas & Star together at the end of the race. I love this show!!!!.....Keep it up!!!

[isalau-2009]

I want to know why Dallas & Toni were not there with everyone else cheering the final three. Where were Dallas & Toni? Were they still stuck in Russia with no money or passports?

[oldanalyst]

I''m a big fan of this show. I really enjoy seeing all the places the contestants go to. More interesting is how the contestants interact with local people. The Russians were very generous with Dallas and Toni and I am sure the Russian soldiers will not forget the marching of Andrew and Dan.

I did not think the ending was weak. I enjoyed it as did a number of my friends. There are many people who watch and enjoy the show!

[pangoo4]

Missed Nick and Starr on CBS this morning, wondered if all the cast were there especially Toni and Dallas,
missed them last night at the finish line, I hope they are okay! Love the show!

[mrscopeland1]

My husband and I love Amazing Race, we do not know why but I want to go on with my son. It is a great Sunday night show

[brucesmall]

Great travel show, on the ground, with the locals. One of the better finishes in the series, too.

[frodflor]

This show has "jumped the shark" (descended into a inferior version of itself)--especially with this final episode...the final tasks should have been much more challenging and competitive. Having it basically be a "leg race" to the end was not only disappointing, but boring. I have loved this show from the very beginning, but am now considering not watching in the future. What happened? It used to be so good...

[frodflor]

This show has "jumped the shark" (descended into a inferior version of itself)--especially with this final episode...the final tasks should have been much more challenging and competitive. Having it basically be a "leg race" to the end was not only disappointing, but boring. I have loved this show from the very beginning, but am now considering not watching in the future. What happened? It used to be so good...

[monksoup]

I love this show!! And I know LOTS of people who watch the show also. Good for Nick and Starr... but Ken and Tina would have been a good winner also. So keep it up CBS...great show!

[helen2]

People like me watch the show. Curious, interested in taking a peek at the cultures, habits, lifestyle in the rest of the world. Better than a "Travel" show.

[boffo1962]

That show''s still on?

[earache4]

The amazing thing is I can''t think of anyone who watched the show.....