Shane Van Gisbergen, known as SVG, is once again making waves at Watkins Glen in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, where road courses have showcased his talent throughout his career. Last season, all of his victories came on these challenging circuits, and even in his rookie Cup season, Van Gisbergen has already secured three wins—all on road courses. Despite his proven speed, his performance at Watkins Glen has faced difficulties, presenting a rocky start for the driver widely regarded as the “road course king.”
During practice, Van Gisbergen’s No. 9 car demonstrated impressive pace but also caused a major incident that disrupted several top competitors. Though it seemed accidental, this event has ignited strong reactions from NASCAR followers.
Practice Session Crash Builds Tension Among Drivers and Fans
The trouble began as Van Gisbergen struggled to control his car entering turn one, resulting in Sam Mayer being forced off the track. Mayer, fresh from a recent win at Iowa and aiming to defend his title at Watkins Glen, was only minimally impacted as both he and Van Gisbergen were able to maintain strong qualifying positions—starting second and fourth respectively.
Christian Eckes, however, suffered a harsher consequence. After Mayer’s spin, Van Gisbergen’s car collided with Eckes’ No. 16 vehicle, spinning Eckes out and preventing him from completing a qualifying lap. As a result, Eckes will start at the back of the field in 36th place, complicating his efforts to secure a playoff spot in the dwindling regular-season races.
Fans React Strongly to the Incident Featuring Key Drivers
The incident quickly became a hot topic online, with many fans blaming Van Gisbergen for the chaos. One described the event bluntly:
SVG just cleared two guys out; this is a horrible look.
—Fan
Others expressed disbelief, simply stating,
Strange…
—Fan
Although neither Van Gisbergen nor Mayer’s races were significantly disrupted, the concern centers on Eckes, who is currently struggling just outside the playoff cutoff by 69 points, with only four races left in the regular season. The predicament has fans worried about the rookie’s championship hopes.
Another frustrated supporter wrote,
Dude, SVG trashed him. What is he doing?
—Fan
Criticism mounted, with one adding a dismissive remark about Van Gisbergen’s abilities:
I’ve seen enough, SVG is washed. Banish him straight to ARCA.
—Fan
Amid the frustration, some took a less serious tone. One fan joked that the crash was an early attempt to eliminate rivals, stating:
Gotta take out the competition early
—Fan
This sarcastic observation points to the pressure Van Gisbergen faces from competitors like Mayer, riding a wave of recent success, and Eckes, who has shown strong road course performance with a fourth-place finish in Mexico. Both drivers could pose significant challenges to Van Gisbergen’s hopes for another victory at Watkins Glen.
Looking Ahead: The Race’s High Stakes and Potential Rivalries
The Watkins Glen race is poised to be an intense battle given these recent events. Tensions between Van Gisbergen, Mayer, and Eckes may influence how the competition unfolds on the track. While the outcome remains uncertain, fans can expect a thrilling contest as the remaining regular-season races grow ever more critical for playoff positioning, especially for contenders like Eckes battling for survival.
Shane Van Gisbergen Watkins Glen incident has not only tested the driver’s composure but also stirred emotions among NASCAR enthusiasts as the season races toward its climax.
