SVG's Victory Lap
About this episode
Shane van Gisbergen joins the show to celebrate his thrilling victory at Sonoma. He opens up about the immense pressure to bounce back, his intense late-race battles with Chase Elliott and Martin Truex Jr., and how he managed severe tire degradation to secure the win. SVG also breaks down his signature post-race burnouts, his strategy for climbing the points standings to secure a playoff spot, and his expectations for the upcoming race at Chicagoland. Finally, he shares valuable insights into how driver technique impacts modern NASCAR tire wear.
Kevin Harvick
"California's Kevin Harvick, Kevin Harvick. What's going on, NASCAR Nation?"
A legendary NASCAR driver who won the championship in 2014 and retired from racing to become a TV commentator and podcast host.
The 2014 NASCAR Cup Series Champion and a future Hall of Famer with 60 career Cup victories. After retiring from full-time racing in 2023, Harvick transitioned into a prominent media role as an analyst for FOX Sports and host of his own podcast.
Shane van Gisbergen
"You know, there might be a little relief, but no one's surprised to see Superman SVG back in the seat with us. Man, what a run this weekend."
An incredibly talented racing driver from New Zealand who shocked the NASCAR world by winning his very first race in 2023. He is famous for his amazing car control, especially on twisty tracks with lots of turns.
A highly decorated New Zealand racing driver who transitioned to NASCAR after a historic debut win at the 2023 Chicago Street Race. He is a three-time Supercars Championship titleholder and is widely regarded as one of the premier road-course racers in motorsport.
Sonoma Raceway
"Was there any added pressure? Maybe not externally, but maybe you put on yourself to go to Sonoma, have a really good race..."
A famous, twisty race track in California's wine country that features lots of hills and sharp turns, making it very different from NASCAR's usual oval tracks.
A challenging 2.52-mile hilly road course located in Sonoma, California. Known for its dramatic elevation changes, sweeping turns, and low-grip asphalt, it is a staple of NASCAR's road-course schedule.
superspeedway
"Some tough tracks and, uh, super speedway in there as well. So anything can happen."
The largest and fastest oval tracks in NASCAR, where cars race in giant, tightly packed groups at speeds over 190 mph.
An oval racetrack measuring 2.0 miles or longer, where cars achieve maximum velocities. In NASCAR, tracks like Daytona and Talladega are famous superspeedways that require specialized aerodynamic packages and restrictor plates/tapered spacers to control speeds.
Roval
"...because for a long time, we've been doing the roble and now it switched back to the oval when that came down..."
A hybrid race track that combines a traditional oval track with a twisty road course built inside the infield, forcing drivers to handle both high-speed straightaways and tight corners.
A portmanteau of 'road course' and 'oval,' referring to a racetrack configuration that utilizes both the high-speed banked turns of an oval and a twisty infield road course. The Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval is the most famous example in NASCAR.
Chicagoland Speedway
"...how are you going to attack a Chicago land? I mean, it's going to be good having a longer practice to learn a new track."
A 1.5-mile oval race track near Chicago that NASCAR used to race on regularly, known for being fast and bumpy.
A 1.5-mile D-shaped oval superspeedway located in Joliet, Illinois. The track hosted NASCAR Cup Series events from 2001 to 2019 and is characterized by its curved backstretch and aging, bumpy racing surface.
tire management
"I was talking to some of the other drivers about, uh, the tires. You've mentioned tire management a couple of times and I just want to get your opinion."
The art of driving a race car gently enough to keep the tires from wearing out too quickly, saving their grip for the end of the race when it matters most.
The racing strategy of driving in a way that minimizes tire wear and overheating, preserving grip for later in a run. Drivers manage tires by avoiding excessive sliding, managing brake bias, and taking smoother lines through corners.
Trackhouse Racing
"Excuse me. Over at track house looking forward to seeing you, uh, this weekend and keep climbing through the points, man."
A modern NASCAR race team co-owned by the singer Pitbull that is famous for bringing in top drivers from other countries to try stock car racing.
A championship-caliber NASCAR Cup Series team co-owned by Justin Marks and international superstar Pitbull. The team is known for its progressive marketing, competitive performance, and 'Project 91' program designed to bring global motorsport stars into NASCAR.
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