Shane van Gisbergen, known as SVG, has shared details about the valuable mentorship he is receiving from Kevin Harvick as he works to master the demands of oval-track racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. Harvick, the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series Champion with 60 career Cup wins, plays an influential role in SVG’s transition, providing insights that have helped SVG adapt to the unique challenges of American stock car racing.
Support from Kevin Harvick and SVG’s Team Drives His Development
As a driver connected with KHI Management, SVG has found Harvick to be one of the most helpful figures as he learns the intricacies of the discipline.
“It was Kevin Harvick for the last couple of years, which has been awesome,”
said van Gisbergen, acknowledging the importance of expert input early in his NASCAR journey.
More recently, SVG has been collaborating closely within his own team, including spotter Josh Williams and crew chief Stephen Doran, to further his progress. Williams has been described as “an amazing coach” by SVG, while Doran and the rest of the crew consistently provide detailed weekly feedback. SVG explained that the ability to analyze data from multiple races at the same track has led to steady improvements, stating,
“Hopefully, we keep showing that progress.”
Strong Start Positions SVG High in NASCAR Standings
NASCAR’s move to a top 16 Chase playoff format this season has shifted team priorities from individual wins to overall consistency across races. This focus has paid off for the New Zealand driver, who currently sits fifth in the standings. SVG began the season with a promising sixth-place finish in his Daytona 500 Duel and displayed competitive pace in the main event before being eliminated after leading.
At Atlanta, SVG achieved his best Cup Series oval result to date, again finishing sixth, despite experiencing a pair of spins. He followed that performance with a strong runner-up finish at Circuit of the Americas and secured an 11th-place result at Phoenix after overcoming additional challenges, including a broken brake pedal, marking a personal best at the venue.
SVG Faces Challenges and Looks to Maintain Momentum
As the schedule moves to Las Vegas, SVG aims to build on his early-season momentum, although his previous outings at the track have proven difficult. Last year, he was involved in incidents during both Cup races, and his first 2024 appearance with Kaulig Racing ended with a 29th-place result, two laps off the lead. In the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, mechanical problems prevented him from finishing either of his races in 2024.
For this weekend’s Cup event, SVG’s car will feature a custom paint scheme designed by artist Mr. Brainwash. Reflecting on his progress, SVG remarked,
“At this time last season, we were at a completely different end of the garage, so the guys enjoy it much more being early in tech,”
highlighting the improvement and morale within the team.
Looking ahead, van Gisbergen recognizes the need for continued steady results and point accumulation. He said,
“We really need to keep having good runs and results, be consistent with scoring points. It’s certainly very encouraging and a cool spot to be in.”
Upcoming Race to Showcase Continued Growth
The green flag for the next Cup Series race is scheduled to wave at 7:00am AEDT on Monday, where SVG, under the continued mentorship of Kevin Harvick, will look to extend his upward trajectory. The partnership’s impact, coupled with teamwork and resilience, has positioned SVG as a rising force in NASCAR, and his ongoing development will be closely watched throughout the season.
