“American Spirit,” Race Number 5, is an L-39C that came into existence in 1977 and was transferred to the United States in the 1990s. Named and painted to commemorate the United States in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, American Spirit’s lineage as a contender at Reno dates back to the earliest days of the Jet class. In 2002, in the very first Gold race in the Jet Class, American Spirit took 1st place, with an average speed of 456.540. It has raced at Reno in every year since, with the exception of 2005, and took first place in the Gold Race in 2004, 2012, 2016, 2017, and 2018. American Spirit has achieved such a great run due in great part to its extreme modifications. Over the years, a number of aerodynamic and weight saving upgrades have been made, ones that will likely see American Spirit be a dominant force at Reno for years to come.