As excitement builds for the 2025 Go Bowling at The Glen, former Cup champion Kevin Harvick has shared his Kevin Harvick Watkins Glen race prediction, naming Trackhouse Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen as his favorite to claim victory at Watkins Glen International this weekend. The race, a highlight of the NASCAR Cup Series season, will showcase top talent on Sunday at the famed New York road course.
Kevin Harvick and Co-hosts Share Race Predictions
During the latest episode of ‘Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour’ podcast, Harvick and his co-hosts Kaitlyn Vincie and Mamba Smith discussed their picks for the Watkins Glen race set for August 10. Harvick expressed strong confidence in Trackhouse driver Shane van Gisbergen to secure a win, which would mark SVG’s fourth road course victory of the year. Notably, van Gisbergen has already won road races at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, the Chicago Street Course, and Sonoma Raceway this season.
Vincie chose Ty Gibbs as her selection, believing the young driver has a solid opportunity to notch his first win of the season at Watkins Glen:
“I already said I picked Ty Gibbs. I think this could be Ty Gibbs. It could be a good shot for him. He’s good on the road course,” Vincie said.
Mamba Smith opted for Xfinity Series rookie Connor Zilisch, backing the newcomer to make a significant impact with potentially his first Cup Series victory:
“Give me the kid. Give me Connor freaking Zilich. That’d because. Let’s go. Yeah, because I am. I think that the other road course races he’s had in the Cup series. I think it was only it was really. He’s got a lot of experience, a lot of experience at this place. It’s going to be impressive. Yeah, give me a show.” —Mamba Smith, Co-host
The Track Record of Shane van Gisbergen at Watkins Glen
Shane van Gisbergen, Harvick’s lead pick for the upcoming contest, is in his debut season as a NASCAR Cup Series regular and has yet to compete in a Cup race at Watkins Glen International. However, the New Zealander participated in an Xfinity Series event at the same circuit last year and finished in second place, showing his adaptability and skill on road courses.
Over 23 races in the ongoing 2025 Cup Series campaign, van Gisbergen, piloting the #88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, has amassed three wins, secured three top-five and four top-10 finishes, and led 208 laps. Despite his accomplishments, his average finish stands at 22.4, and he holds the 25th position in the Cup Series standings with a total of 398 points.
Anticipation for the 2025 Go Bowling at The Glen
The upcoming showdown at Watkins Glen International will see if Harvick, Vincie, or Smith’s predictions come true, as emerging and experienced drivers compete for victory. The 2025 Go Bowling at The Glen will air live on USA Network at 2 p.m. ET, with radio broadcasts available on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Fans are eager to see whether Shane van Gisbergen can translate his successful road course campaigns onto this iconic track, or if other contenders like Ty Gibbs or Connor Zilisch can seize their moment. The unpredictable nature of the road courses and the intensity of this season continue to keep the NASCAR Cup Series as thrilling as ever.
