After a spirited three days of competition that saw the mighty fall and the dark horses run wild, the American Iron Series has crowned its new champions. Chris Griswold backed up his 2007 win with a repeat victory in AIX and Ross Murray achieved the top step in AI after driving a smart and consistent final race.

The AIX final race was a story of attrition and heartbreak with many of the top contenders dropping out when their high strung ponycars could not survive the constant pounding delivered by the challenging course at Miller Motorsports Park. The AIX race began with Griswold and Elliot Fisher pulling out to an early lead with Ernesto Roco in hot pursuit with a dicey rear differential that had been replaced the night before. As the race went on, it became clear that Griswold had both the track and setup dialed in after his fourth place finish in Spec Miata the day before. Fisher was holding in a small distance behind Griswold with Roco challenging for P2 many times in many different corners. At about the midway point of the race, Fisher’s #12x went sailing off the course as a result of a broken front hub that put him on the flatbed wrecker. Roco began to try to reel Griswold in but he soon retired near the Tooele Turn when his windshield began to fill with oil spray that indicated a motor on its way out. This left Pratt Cole and George Winkler in their FR500S cars to hold on to the end. As the white flag flew on the checker lap, Griswold began to jink back and forth in effort to get some fuel to the pickup in his tank as he was running on fumes after 40 minutes of hard driving. As the race ended, the #71 sipped just enough to make it to the checker with Cole, Winkler, and Pantas in the next few spots. Unfortunately, Cole was found to have illegal tires in impound so the final podium was Griswold, Winkler and Pantas.

The AI race began with a bit of a scrambled start as the field came to the green. Patrick Lindsey held on to his pole position as the pack came into Turn One with Tommy Schlender dropping back from the front due to a steering problem that ended his chances for a good finish. Dean Martin began his charge through the pack early and began to pressure Lindsey whenever and wherever possible with both drivers giving it all they had to get out in front. Meanwhile, back in the pack Ross Murray, Matt White, and Corey Weber began to work their way forward keeping out of trouble and driving hard to try and stay with the juggernaut out front. After a full course caution, the field bunched up putting the top five all together for the restart. As the green flew again, Martin got by Lindsey and Lindsey appeared to slow as Murray, White, and Weber all managed to get by him due to what was later diagnosed as both an engine and a rear differential that were on borrowed time. Murray kept the heat on Martin with White and Weber just behind also having their own battle to see who would fill the final step on the podium. As the white flag flew, it looked like Martin had the win sewed up but again cruel fate intervened. As Martin entered the Tooele Turn coming to the checker, he put two wheels off the pavement and lost control which sent him into Murray’s rear quarter panel as he thundered by. Martin ricocheted off Murray and ended up into the wall hard with major damage to the car but thankfully no damage to the driver. Murray kept it together for the final turns and sailed across the finish with a jubilant fist in the air followed by an equally elated Matt White and Corey Weber. Post race inspections found all cars legal and the podium order stood as final.

Congratulations and thanks to all the competitors and special thanks to our video sponsors Toyo Tires and Maximum Motorsports as well as Race Director Todd Covini and Assistant Race Director Al Fernandez. Video of the liver coverage of the race is now available at www.speedcasttv.com and a finished production will be available soon as well.