SVG says perpetual favourite tag ‘disrespects my competition’

In his 14 non-oval starts in the NASCAR Cup Series since his 2023 debut, van Gisbergen has won half.

That included a five-race streak in 2025 across Mexico City, Chicago, Sonoma, Watkins Glen, and Charlotte.

Van Gisbergen ran second to 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick in Austin earlier this year but bounced back with an emphatic Watkins Glen win.

San Diego is the sole street circuit on this year’s calendar, replacing the downtown Chicago course.

Van Gisbergen is the short-priced favourite according to bookmakers, but believes that undersells how good his opposition is.

“It pisses me off a bit. I feel like it disrespects my competition,” said van Gisbergen.

“I think they’re [at] a really high level. I feel like I’ve spent the last little while talking myself down because I know that there are 10 guys probably that can win on pure pace.

“In NASCAR, so much stuff can happen with strategies and stages that there are even more guys who can win.

“I don’t think it’s going to be easy, that’s for sure.”

While van Gisbergen tried to talk up his opposition, even they admitted the New Zealander would be hard to beat.

Asked who would fare well on the bumpy Naval Base Coronado course, RFK Racing driver Brad Keselowski laughed and replied, “You mean besides Shane?”

“I think Shane’s background is the ideal background, which is V8 Supercars,” he explained.

“This is kind of what they do – similar cars, similar types of tracks. That’s really what you look for is those experiences that give them the best opportunity to be successful, for sure.

“Short of that, I think Trans Am experience is pretty good. That seems to be the go-to now for the younger drivers. We’re seeing a lot of success with that.

“The experience, being in Cup, is good but not as good as it is having time in either one of those two series.”

Van Gisbergen acknowledged that he has experience on circuits like San Diego over his rivals, drawing comparisons to the likes of Homebush and Hamilton.

They weren’t necessarily glowing endorsements, however.

“This is my background,” he said of street circuit racing.

“I’ve done a lot of tracks like this and kind of know what to expect and I know how I’m going to approach practice.

“I know my competition is very good as well.

“I’ve driven at some pretty average tracks,” he laughed.

“Turn 2 is exactly like Turn 9 at Homebush with the bumps and the surface changes.

“I’ve driven on some stinkers, so this track is pretty smooth in some spots compared to some [others].

“Homebush, Hamilton, and then maybe Sebring. Yeah, Sebring is top five worst tracks I’ve ever done. It reminds me of that. This is not bad.

“There are bits that remind me of all different types of tracks I’ve done.

“The rail roads are quite new, especially how you cross them sideways. On the trackwalk yesterday, that looked like it would be tough to navigate.”

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Van Gisbergen was eighth overall in the single practice session and 0.732s off chart-topper Kyle Larson for Hendrick Motorsports.

The Kiwi admitted Trackhouse Racing made a mistake in the closing minutes of the session that prevented him from a second new tyre run.

“[The track] is a little difficult,” said van Gisbergen.

“I guess it’s so hard to hear around here, I was screaming to come in and I couldn’t hear anything so I missed a run, we missed that last set. That’s okay.

“It was surprising how much [tyre] fall-off there was. I feel like I was slow but I guess everyone else was too. It feels like the (Charlotte) ROVAL where they only last two or three laps.”

NASCAR Cup Series qualifying takes place at 4am AEST on Sunday.

Results: NASCAR Cup Series Anduril 250 Race the Base, Practice