Round 3 of the Mid Atlantic Region of the American Iron Series stopped at Summit Point for the first time in 2012 on April 28-29. Turnout was the best of the season thus far as the American Iron class fielded ten cars and American Iron Extreme, three.
Shortly before race time Saturday, the AI and AIX gang were treated to lunch by Regional Director Jimmy Bost and his crew. Jimmy's wife Jennifer showed her talent with a huge spread of delicious homemade food. During lunch Janie and Stephanie, stylists from Bost’s 2012 sponsor and partner First Impressions Salon, shared some exclusive specials. (First Impressions Salon)
Ed Hunter (Mustang) and Chris Cobetto (Performance Autosport Mustang GTR) led the stampede of AI Mustangs behind a mix of AIX, SU, and ST cars. The AI field quickly caught one of the slower ST cars forcing the Mustangs to take evasive action. Cobetto, Hunter, and Ron McCall (McCall’s Transmissions & Baltimore Finish Works Mustang) cleared the slower car, but Jimmy Bost (First Impressions Salon Mustang Cobra) who started on the inside of row two was stuck causing him to lose several positions. Aided by his recent suspension upgrades including a homemade double A-arm setup, Hunter was able to get by Cobetto to take the lead. The two put on quite a show for the fans as they swapped positions several times. Bost and Todd Nunn, who started fifth in his Mustang, battled hard throughout the race. Bost kept Nunn in the rearview mirror until lap twelve when Nunn was able to get to the inside entering turn 10 and pull ahead to complete the pass. Bost fought back in turn 1 and managed to pass Nunn's notchback after Nunn overcooked the turn and slid wide. Aided by lap traffic, Bost was able to hold off Nunn until the checkers fell. While trying to catch Hunter, Cobetto experienced some electrical gremlins forcing him to the pits to shutdown and restart his car. He returned to the track a lap down to finish fifth. Hunter took his first win of the season followed by McCall and Bost who edged Nunn by a car length.
The AIX field was bolstered by George Winkler's new Winkler’s Automotive Boss 302R Mustang and he made quick work of Daren Ardinger's Chevy Nova and Bill Greene's S197 Mustang. Winkler's Boss took the win uncontested.
Sunday was a new day for AI as Cobetto jumped out to the lead after a clean start and stayed there. McCall started the race in the wrong gear and was quickly overtaken by Nunn and Bost. Bost had a great start and passed both McCall and Nunn before the pack thinned out. Nunn stayed close and moved ahead with a slick pass on lap six. McCall eventually got by Bost for a couple laps before losing the position in traffic. Hunter worked hard to pass Cobetto for thirteen laps before going wide in the carousel. He was able to get back on track without incident but had lost a considerable amount of time. Nunn got by while Hunter cleaned off his tires and got back up to speed. As Nunn and Hunter went into turn 10 in what would turn out to be their final lap, Hunter drove in wide missing his apex. This caused his Mustang to drift all four wheels off into the rough. Hunter quickly gathered the car up and gently steered back onto the track, but just before hitting the pavement the rough terrain caused his car to make a hard right turn shooting it straight across the track and into the concrete wall separating the pits. Hunter's safety equipment had done its job as he walked away, but the resulting red flag ended the race. Cobetto took his fifth win of six races in 2012 followed by Nunn. Hunter was scored third followed by Bost and McCall. Wes Dearing, Randy Maits, Kienan Weber, Frank Corkran, and Robert Korzen all had mechanical issues and failed to finish a race.
In the AIX race on Sunday Bill Greene fought hard and stayed with Winkler’s Boss for nearly eight laps before fading back. Ardinger failed to finish and Winkler took another win.
Next stop for the series is Hyperfest at Summit Point on June 16 which is guaranteed to bring huge crowds and exciting racing.
Shortly before race time Saturday, the AI and AIX gang were treated to lunch by Regional Director Jimmy Bost and his crew. Jimmy's wife Jennifer showed her talent with a huge spread of delicious homemade food. During lunch Janie and Stephanie, stylists from Bost’s 2012 sponsor and partner First Impressions Salon, shared some exclusive specials. (First Impressions Salon)
Ed Hunter (Mustang) and Chris Cobetto (Performance Autosport Mustang GTR) led the stampede of AI Mustangs behind a mix of AIX, SU, and ST cars. The AI field quickly caught one of the slower ST cars forcing the Mustangs to take evasive action. Cobetto, Hunter, and Ron McCall (McCall’s Transmissions & Baltimore Finish Works Mustang) cleared the slower car, but Jimmy Bost (First Impressions Salon Mustang Cobra) who started on the inside of row two was stuck causing him to lose several positions. Aided by his recent suspension upgrades including a homemade double A-arm setup, Hunter was able to get by Cobetto to take the lead. The two put on quite a show for the fans as they swapped positions several times. Bost and Todd Nunn, who started fifth in his Mustang, battled hard throughout the race. Bost kept Nunn in the rearview mirror until lap twelve when Nunn was able to get to the inside entering turn 10 and pull ahead to complete the pass. Bost fought back in turn 1 and managed to pass Nunn's notchback after Nunn overcooked the turn and slid wide. Aided by lap traffic, Bost was able to hold off Nunn until the checkers fell. While trying to catch Hunter, Cobetto experienced some electrical gremlins forcing him to the pits to shutdown and restart his car. He returned to the track a lap down to finish fifth. Hunter took his first win of the season followed by McCall and Bost who edged Nunn by a car length.
The AIX field was bolstered by George Winkler's new Winkler’s Automotive Boss 302R Mustang and he made quick work of Daren Ardinger's Chevy Nova and Bill Greene's S197 Mustang. Winkler's Boss took the win uncontested.
Sunday was a new day for AI as Cobetto jumped out to the lead after a clean start and stayed there. McCall started the race in the wrong gear and was quickly overtaken by Nunn and Bost. Bost had a great start and passed both McCall and Nunn before the pack thinned out. Nunn stayed close and moved ahead with a slick pass on lap six. McCall eventually got by Bost for a couple laps before losing the position in traffic. Hunter worked hard to pass Cobetto for thirteen laps before going wide in the carousel. He was able to get back on track without incident but had lost a considerable amount of time. Nunn got by while Hunter cleaned off his tires and got back up to speed. As Nunn and Hunter went into turn 10 in what would turn out to be their final lap, Hunter drove in wide missing his apex. This caused his Mustang to drift all four wheels off into the rough. Hunter quickly gathered the car up and gently steered back onto the track, but just before hitting the pavement the rough terrain caused his car to make a hard right turn shooting it straight across the track and into the concrete wall separating the pits. Hunter's safety equipment had done its job as he walked away, but the resulting red flag ended the race. Cobetto took his fifth win of six races in 2012 followed by Nunn. Hunter was scored third followed by Bost and McCall. Wes Dearing, Randy Maits, Kienan Weber, Frank Corkran, and Robert Korzen all had mechanical issues and failed to finish a race.
In the AIX race on Sunday Bill Greene fought hard and stayed with Winkler’s Boss for nearly eight laps before fading back. Ardinger failed to finish and Winkler took another win.
Next stop for the series is Hyperfest at Summit Point on June 16 which is guaranteed to bring huge crowds and exciting racing.
