THRILLS, SPILLS & GLORY AT WATKINS GLEN
- Karl Fredrich Ison
- Jun 25
- 3 min read
Buckle up, race fans — Watkins Glen delivered ninety minutes of non-stop GT3 madness on iRacing as Team USA Talent Scout Event 3 powered by MOZA Racing roared to life with nearly 40 cars on the grid. With Rookies and top-tier veterans sharing the tarmac, the stakes were sky-high and the racing was fierce.
⚔️ Qualifying: Tenths That Felt Like Milliseconds
A fierce three-way battle lit up qualifying as Jordan Johnson (Apex Racing Academy), Xander Reed (Coanda Esports), and Michael Janney (Coanda Esports) traded purple sectors. It was Johnson who emerged with the edge, claiming pole by just under two-tenths over Janney. Erik Halsband led the chase group in his Mercedes, ahead of a storming pack of McLarens hungry for more.
🚨 Race Start: Pandemonium in Turn 1!
As the green flag waved, Johnson launched cleanly from pole, but chaos erupted behind. In a scene straight out of a bowling alley, one driver took the "Go-Bowling" signage a bit too literally, spinning through Turn 1 and sending several cars scrambling into the runoff. The dust barely settled before Nolberto Alvarez Jr. lit things up mid-pack with aggressive, heart-in-mouth overtakes.
Meanwhile, the front trio — Johnson, Janney, and Reed — treated fans to a draft-train masterclass, running nose-to-tail in a high-speed chess match.
🔁 Pit Strategy & Mustang Mayhem
As the clock ticked down to the 1-hour mark, teamwork made the dream work: Janney and Reed, both in Mustangs, executed a slick bump-draft maneuver on the back straight to sweep past Johnson. But the pit cycle turned the tables once again. Johnson, opting for a late stop, pulled off a brilliant overcut and reclaimed the lead.
Behind them, the fight for P4 turned into an all-out war. Brian Turner found himself under siege from Adrian Puebla, Michael Piecko, Kyle Loh, and the ever-pressuring Halsband. Five cars, one goal — and not a single inch given.
💥 Drama to the Last Lap
Turn 9 became the unofficial villain of the race, catching out driver after driver with brutal punishment for those a bit too eager on the throttle — and giving the "Orange Army" (track marshals) plenty of carbon-fiber souvenirs.
In the closing laps, Piecko, with a technical difficulty, missed out on a last-ditch attempt to dethrone Turner. But the veteran held firm, absorbing 30 relentless minutes of pressure to take a heroic P4.
🏁 Final Standings:
🥇 Jordan Johnson – Calm, calculated, and victorious 🥈 Michael Janney – Aggressive, strategic, and solid in P2 🥉 Xander Reed – Fast and unflinching, rounding out the podium ⭐ Honorable Mention: Brian Turner – A brick wall in P4, with nerves of steel
🔥 What a race. What a field. What a statement.
This was more than just a race — it was a showcase of raw talent, racing IQ, and unfiltered passion. If this is what the future of American motorsport looks like, then buckle up — it's going to be one hell of a ride.
Moza Prizes:
MOZA KS WHEEL - Jordan Johnson
MOZA GS V2P GT WHEEL - Aaron Ramón
200 MOZA POINTS Steven Anderson Nolberto Alverez JR Xander Reed
100 MOZA POINTS; Arron Brown Jason Walat Marc Lerwick
Their commitment to empowering the sim racing community continues to fuel the growth of the sport and the dreams of competitors nationwide. For all TEAM USA Talent Scout Events MOZA will offer a prize for the winner, a participant, and MOZA points to 6 randomly selected drivers.
Watch the Replay
Missed the action? Relive every moment of this cinematic race on Twitch and YouTube. From Turn 1 chaos to last-lap heroics, this one was built for the highlight reel.
Influencers and Impact
A lineup of top-tier influencers joined the grid, bringing energy, visibility, and a powerful sense of community to the event. Their presence is a testament to sim racing’s growing cultural relevance — and its thrilling future.
Don’t Just Watch — Join the Race
Think you’ve got what it takes? Registration for the next Team USA Talent Scout event is now open. Whether you’re a rising star or a seasoned pro, your shot at representing the red, white, and blue starts here. The full calendar of events can be found at www.initesports.gg/carsim
Special thanks go to TRACKILITIOUS as our fantastic community partner, Mike Nause and Jackson Lamb, our amazing commentators, and everyone else working tirelessly behind the scenes to make those events a success.
👉 Follow @InitEsports on all platforms to stay updated, register for the next race, and be part of the movement redefining motorsports from the screen to the speedway.
