The perception about Shane van Gisbergen has been very optimistic ever since he rocked his NASCAR Cup Series debut last year. The Kiwi Supercar star won the 2023 inaugural NCS race at the Chicago Street Course and has been driving part-time with Kaulig Racing since. SVG will be fielded full time in NCS by Trackhouse next year.

The Auckland, New Zealand driver’s versatility is off the charts, which has convinced his new boss, Justin Marks, to field him in Chilli Bowl. While neither midget cars nor dirt racing are new to the talented driver, he does have some reservations. But NASCAR fans are excited to see him in yet another form of racing.

What reservations does Shane van Gisbergen have for competing in the Chilli Bowl?

Shane van Gisbergen is a three-time Supercars champion. He has vast experience driving various car types across different tracks. Although road courses are his favorite, he is trying to get a hold of the ovals to be able to perform well in 2025 NCS. He also drives sprint cars in his free time and finds them really fun and challenging.

But midget cars have a whole different level of adjustment around them and SVG’s Chilli Bowl debut is dependent on that consideration. First of all, they’re not ideal for a man as tall as SVG. “I felt safe in a sprint car, I felt in control of the car. You have that cushion on the roof whereas in a midget, you’re on the edge the whole time and about to have a huge crash. It’s an awesome feeling, but a bad one as well,” SVG told speedcafe. He knows the feeling because he did midget racing back at home from 1998 to 2004.

So, while SVG says that Marks is keen to sign him up for the challenge, the idea might be a little far-fetched for the driver. SVG also spoke to Kyle Busch about the proposition and he agreed with SVG’s concerns. However, Busch Sr. continues to participate in Tulsa because of Busch Jr.’s, his 8-year-old son Brexton, inclination towards it.

Nonetheless, the Chilli Bowl debut is still on the cards and we just might see his name on the list soon. SVG also confirms that he would like to watch the race at the least. And fans are pumped up to have him race in one of the world’s most popular midget races.

What are the fans saying about the speculation?

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The NASCAR world is all but unhappy about the possibility of Shane van Gisbergen’s debut at Chilli Bowl. One fan even went as far as comparing him to Jimmie Johnson, as they wrote, “ SVG anything with an engine.” JJ is known for his versatility across tracks and his unbeatable record of five consecutive NCS championships. This fan must really dig into SVG’s driving skills.

Other fans connected the dots between Kyle Larson‘s recent ‘best driver’ controversial claim and SVG’s likely debut on his turf. Building up on the clues, one user suggested, “SVG heard the debate over best driver in the world was between Larson and Verstappen and he got offended that he wasn’t included.” While SVG might not be interested in getting caught in the crossfire, just like Verstappen backed off from the comparison, he does have a legitimate claim given his track record.

Some more fans jumped into the conversation with their own views about the matter. One user commented, “Cool! Maybe SVG will do a WoO/ High Limit race next.” That is one excellent suggestion, as those races do align with SVG’s experience of touring cars and dirt racing combined. Another user joked about SVG’s all-encompassing capabilities as they wrote, “At this point I fully expect SVG to be in the 2026 Olympics in either Snowcross or Bobsledding.”

Yet another user opined that SVG was to Larson, what Jean Girard was to Ricky Bobby as he commented, “Man’s tryna pull a Jean Girard on Larson”. It is an interesting tale of Girard’s stint in NASCAR in 2006. The F1 driver returned to his original sport soon after his teammate Bobby beat him to the championship claim. As fans love some drama, they will keep cooking stories until there’s official news on the matter.

What do you think about SVG’s Chilli Club debut? Let us know.