Mitchell deJong’s road course prowess played a big factor in his breakthrough 2021 rookie season, and it may have just saved his 2022 season.
deJong led 33 of the final 45 laps of Watkins Glen International to claim his third career eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series victory, all of which have come at road courses. He won at Circuit of the Americas and Road America last season.
“It’s unbelievable,” Dejong said. “Last year, the road courses went really well for me, but this season has been more of a struggle. Today, we had some good prep, and the cards kind of fell in place for us. I am so excited. It is such a great feeling.”
WINNER! @MitchelldeJong1 WINS AGAIN, REDEMPTION FROM A SEASON AGO, FINALLY A WINNER AT @WGI AND IN 2022!
Welcome back to the playoffs, Mitchell!#eNASCAR | @iRacing pic.twitter.com/PAkkKPVnUh
— Justin Melillo (@justinmelillo) August 17, 2022
The race’s opening laps produced a great deal of drama and shook up the playoff picture. Ray Alfalla, a four-time series champion, came into Watkins Glen with a race win but a tenuous hold on the top 20. Alfalla lost that hold when he crashed his No. 51 Joe Gibbs Racing/Virtual Racing School Toyota on the opening lap with the No. 43 of Kollin Kiester and Collin Bowden in the No. 69.
He then wrecked again on lap two just off the carousel after contact with Zack Novak. Alfalla wound up 36th in the running order and now sits outside the top 20 for playoff eligibility and to avoid relegation to a lower series.
“I was just in the wrong place at the time,” Alfalla said. “We knew we had a tough challenge with the road course. This is really unfortunate.”
So MUCH happening early on! A Lap 1 Turn 1 debacle puts Playoff hopefuls like Novak and Alfalla in trouble, then they touch and Ray could be on the outside looking in. MEANWHILE Bobby Zalenski is hanging on barely over Mitchell deJong!#eNASCAR | @iRacing pic.twitter.com/MtuQ7N6IZg
— Justin Melillo (@justinmelillo) August 17, 2022
Bobby Zalenski led the early laps in his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing/Interstate Batteries Toyota, but deJong was on his bumper almost the whole time in the No. 23 23XI Racing/Virtual Racing School Toyota. Zalenski fended him off for 12 laps, but finally surrendered the lead to deJong on lap 13 and would never see the top spot again.
A series of green flag stops from laps 30-32 did little to change the complexion of the race. Zalenski came down pit road on lap 30, looking to gain an edge by…
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