NASCAR Xfinity Series Fahrer SHANE VAN GISBERGEN 97 bereitet sich auf das Training für das Bank of America ROVAL 400 auf dem Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course in Concord, NC, Concord, Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika vor NASCAR Xfinity Series driver, SHANE VAN GISBERGEN 97, prepares to practice for the Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course in Concord, NC, Concord, United States of America Copyright: imageBROKER/GrindstonexMediaxGro ibxiqx12959277.jpg Bitte beachten Sie die gesetzlichen Bestimmungen des deutschen Urheberrechtes hinsichtlich der Namensnennung des Fotografen im direkten Umfeld der Veröffentlichung
NASCAR Xfinity Series Fahrer SHANE VAN GISBERGEN 97 bereitet sich auf das Training für das Bank of America ROVAL 400 auf dem Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course in Concord, NC, Concord, Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika vor NASCAR Xfinity Series driver, SHANE VAN GISBERGEN 97, prepares to practice for the Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course in Concord, NC, Concord, United States of America Copyright: imageBROKER/GrindstonexMediaxGro ibxiqx12959277.jpg Bitte beachten Sie die gesetzlichen Bestimmungen des deutschen Urheberrechtes hinsichtlich der Namensnennung des Fotografen im direkten Umfeld der Veröffentlichung
Shane Van Gisbergen is currently 15th in the leaderboard and is desperately fighting to stay in contention to make the Chase.
Despite picking up form on ovals, which aren’t really his strong suit, SVG picked up a 6th-place finish once again in Atlanta, his second-best oval finish so far. But Kevin Harvick believes there is a bigger threat to SVG’s Chase hopes than just points.
Since the race in San Diego, the Trackhouse 97 Chevrolet driver has been in an on-track battle with RCR’s 33 Chevrolet driver Austin Hill. Hill took out SVG on the street course, and he paid it back at Chicagoland.
Harvick and co. were in conversation about the driver pairing who were calling into the NASCAR hauler, and they spoke about such rivalries being entertaining, but with the shot at a championship at stake, one driver may have more to lose than the other.
On his Happy Hour podcast, Harvick said, “For Shane, it's worst-case scenario because the other guy has nothing to lose.”
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 12: Shane Van Gisbergen 97 TrackHouse Racing Super File Chevrolet races into the tri-oval during the running of the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Quaker State 400 on July 12, 2026 at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, GA. Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: JUL 12 NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon26071213184400
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 12: Shane Van Gisbergen 97 TrackHouse Racing Super File Chevrolet races into the tri-oval during the running of the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Quaker State 400 on July 12, 2026 at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, GA. Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: JUL 12 NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon26071213184400
Harvick spoke on SVG’s hopes in making the Chase and how he needs to handle the Austin Hill situation with just 6 races remaining in the regular season.
“He needs to defuse it. And he needs every point that he can get for the next six weeks because he’s right on the edge of being on the outside looking in.”
While Harvick complemented the form that SVG has begun showing at ovals, he did add the reminder that none of the races are road courses going forward.
With the likes of Joey Logano and Ross Chastain, oval course masters currently sitting below SVG, the Kiwi driver will know he doesn’t need added on-track drama as he aims to remain in Chase contention.
SVG knows he’s got more to lose
Harvick was speaking on things that Shane Van Gisbergen already knows for himself.
The 37-year-old Trackhouse driver had his first-ever visit to the NASCAR hauler in Atlanta as NASCAR attempted to sit the drivers down and talk out the situation. SVG spoke to the press following his visit to the hauler.
SVG’s reaction was played out on the Happy Hour podcast with the Trackhouse driver saying, “That’s my first time in the hauler. One person seemed more remorseful.”
Asked if both the drivers were ready to move on, SVG replied, “It’s hard. I don’t know how much to say, but yeah, I’m happy. But obviously I got more to lose, and he doesn’t.”
As NASCAR visits North Wilkesboro for a points-scoring race for the first time since 1996, SVG will hope he isn’t anywhere near Hill on track lest tempers flare up again.
Do you think SVG will make the Chase? Let us know.
Read more at Daytona Racing Digest.
Written by
Debrup Chaudhuri
Edited by
Suyashdeep Sason