Mitchell DeJong Makes History Earning Global Rallycross Lites Silver at 2013 X Games
- 26 Sept 2013
At the inaugural Global Rallycross Lites final at the X Games in Los Angeles, California, DeJong inked his name in the history books by winning the Silver Medal, and becoming the youngest Global Rallycross driver to ever earn a tier on the X Games podium. "I was just so stoked to be invited to compete in X Games. It seemed so surreal, because I've wanted to race a Rallycross car in the X Games events ever since it started," said DeJong. "During the race week it really just seemed like another race to me. This was only my second time racing this car and I was just hoping to not make any mistakes. It wasn't until after the race, during the medal ceremony, when they presented me with the Silver Medal that it really hit me. I was taking home the Silver! It felt pretty awesome, and not just for me, but for my whole team. It's a total team effort, Borne Olsson and the Olsbergs crew, my parents and the sponsors who've believed in me. It's so great to see that look of triumph in the faces of my team. DeJong and Olsbergs' MSE GRC Lites mechanic, Bjorn, tuned the front suspension of the No.24 Red Bull GRC Lite right before his heat race, and the adjustment paid off big time. The K&N sponsored driver was able to post the fastest lap time of both heats, as he easily advanced to the first ever X Games GRC Lites Final. With an outside starting position for the Final, DeJong understood that he needed to get a great start to have any chance at a medal in the intense eight car field. When the green lights flashed DeJong held his line wide around turns one and two, positioning himself to take over the 4th position coming out of turn three. Then using the "Joker Lap" option, which is available only once per race, he was able to slide his car two more positions into 2nd place. Once DeJong was in clean air, he began to shave a second per lap off the lead until high engine temperatures forced the car into cool-mode, limiting the motors full rpm range. DeJong however maintained his composure and he had enough power to hold onto 2nd place for his very first X Games Silver Medal.
"Rallycross combines the best racing challenges using multiple terrains, basically all of my racing worlds wrapped in to one. I love it!" declares DeJong. "On-road, off-road, jumps, short course, and head-to- head racing in this Rallycross Lites car has been the most fun racing I've done so far." We asked DeJong how his dream race career would take shape under ideal conditions? "This is the question I'm asked the most. Because I like the challenges and competition of different types of racing, it's pretty hard for me to just pick one. I'd like to keep Rallycross racing, it's so new to me, different than anything I've raced before and it's always a new challenge on the track with the multiple surface changes in a single race. I really love road course racing too, and if I had the opportunity, I'd love to drive an F1 car. Next up on Mitchell DeJong's race calendar is The Dirt Track in North Carolina on September 22 2013, when the Global Rallycross series returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway. |
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| Related K&N News Articles about Mitchell DeJong and the X Games: Mitchell DeJong Breaks Record In World Of Off-Road Racing; 14-Year-Old Prodigy, Mitchell DeJong, Races with K&N Filters into Future Stardom; Rhys Millen Takes 2013 Global RallyCross X Games LCQ Final and Finishes 4th Overall; Vickie Golden Wins Back-to-Back Motocross Gold at 2012 X Games 18 |
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