A Global Talent Takes the Wheel
Kevin Magnussen, a Danish former Formula 1 driver, is set to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series race at San Diego on Naval Base Coronado, piloting the No. 91 Qualcomm Technologies Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing as part of the Project 91 program.
Magnussen’s résumé includes a decade in Formula 1 from 2014 to 2024, where he earned four top‑five finishes and holds the record for the most points scored on a debut. He has spoken enthusiastically about the contrast between the precision of F1 and the raw, pack‑racing intensity of NASCAR, noting the lessons he learned during practice laps at the Charlotte Roval.
Project 91, launched by Trackhouse Racing, seeks to broaden the series’ global footprint by inviting international drivers to test themselves on American stock‑car tracks. The initiative previously fielded Helio Castroneves at the 2025 Daytona 500 and now welcomes Magnussen, whose entry follows Shane van Gisbergen’s historic debut victory in 2023, the first such win for a non‑American since 1963.
The crew chief for Magnussen’s No. 91 entry will be Phil Surgen, a veteran with six Cup Series wins who will guide the Danish driver through the unique demands of NASCAR’s oval and road‑course formats. Their collaboration represents a convergence of European engineering insight and American racing tradition.
Magnussen is not the first Formula 1 star to cross over to stock‑car racing; legends such as Mario Andretti, Juan Pablo Montoya and Dan Gurney have all left their mark in NASCAR. Their experiences underscore a long‑standing curiosity about how the precision of F1 translates to the high‑drag, close‑quarters battles of American ovals.
Adding to the spectacle, seven‑time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will also take the wheel for Legacy Motor Club at the San Diego event, sharing the grid with Magnussen and further enriching the race’s international flavor.