Kevin Harvick warns NASCAR drivers after wildcard win, following Shane van Gisbergen‘s victory in Mexico City which has reduced the number of available spots in the NASCAR Cup Playoffs, intensifying the battle among those on the playoff bubble. Harvick, speaking on his recent Happy Hour podcast, emphasized that drivers from 14th place and beyond, particularly Josh Berry, need to adopt a more aggressive approach if they hope to secure a playoff berth.
Pressure Builds After Van Gisbergen’s Win in Mexico City
Shane van Gisbergen’s surprise triumph at the NASCAR race in Mexico City has put additional pressure on drivers sitting near the playoff cut line. As fewer wildcard positions remain, those vying for entry must now switch from a points-gathering mindset to aiming for outright victories. Harvick stressed,
“I think everybody from 14th back in the current point standing needs to be concerned,”
—Kevin Harvick, Broadcaster. He highlighted Chase Briscoe, Alex Bowman, Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch, Ryan Preece, Carson Hocevar, Ty Gibbs, and Brad Keselowski as drivers who now face greater uncertainty.
Josh Berry, currently holding one of the last points-qualifying spots, was singled out by Harvick for his declining performance.
“The guy that’s in the points right now that I’m worried about right now is Josh Berry. Where did that 21 car speed and just everything that they started the year go? So I’m a little bit worried about him, but I think that those guys need to race like they need to win. I know they all want to win, but if you’re talking about points in your shop, you are having the wrong conversation if you’re 14th and back.”
—Kevin Harvick, Broadcaster
Standings Shake-Up Raises Stakes for Playoff Contenders
The playoff standings are especially congested from 11th place downward, with a cluster of strong competitors separated by minimal point gaps. Each race now becomes critical for aspirants as the field of potential playoff drivers gets tighter. Harvick explained the impact of van Gisbergen’s breakthrough, noting how the standings have been reconfigured:
“He’s a world-class racer, we thought this was coming, and now we see it with the standings and everything that it mixes up with the points. I still believe we’re going to have a couple more winners.”
—Kevin Harvick, Broadcaster
From Harvick’s perspective, drivers who are currently just inside or outside the cutoff cannot afford to play it safe.
“Right now, Briscoe is 14th. That puts Bowman and Buescher, if that were the case, out if they’re not one of the winners. But from SVG’s standpoint, he’s a world-class road racer, and I think he continues to get better on the ovals, and I think that will make his road racing even better as he gets more comfortable in the cars.”
—Kevin Harvick, Broadcaster
Wild Card Winners Tighten the Chase for the Cup
Shane van Gisbergen’s historic NASCAR Cup win as a wildcard entry has instantly shifted the playoff landscape. His rise as both a celebrated road racer and a growing threat on ovals pushes his competitors to adjust strategies. Drivers like Briscoe, Bowman, Buescher, and others must now race with increased urgency in upcoming events, knowing their playoff status could change with each new winner. As Harvick pointed out, discussing points may no longer be enough—winning has become essential for those outside the top thirteen.
The atmosphere surrounding the Cup Playoffs is now more intense, with Harvick’s warnings echoing throughout the garage. The coming weeks are expected to be fiercely competitive, as each race could further shuffle the leaderboard. Those not already locked into a playoff spot are unlikely to overlook any opportunity and, as Harvick observed, Shane van Gisbergen may not be a popular figure among drivers on the edge of missing out this season.
