Danish Formula One veteran Kevin Magnussen is set to make his debut in NASCAR’s premier Cup Series, taking the wheel of the No. 91 Qualcomm Technologies Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing in the season‑opening event at San Diego.
Project 91 Brings Global Talent to Stock Car Racing
The initiative, founded by former NASCAR driver Justin Marks in 2022, seeks to showcase international open‑wheel talent on American ovals and road courses, a concept that has already yielded surprising successes.
Magnussen’s F1 pedigree
Having amassed 18 points on his Formula One debut, the most ever for a rookie, Magnussen also contested the IMSA SportsCar Championship, scoring a victory in Detroit in 2021, before turning his attention to the American stock‑car scene.
A New Challenge for Magnussen
Crew chief Phil Surgen will guide Magnussen’s program at San Diego, where the car will run on the historic road course of Naval Base Coronado, marking the first time NASCAR races on an active military installation.
A Legacy of Cross‑Discipline Champions
The move follows a tradition of Formula One alumni such as Mario Andretti, who won the 1967 Daytona 500 and the 1978 World Championship, and Juan Pablo Montoya, a seven‑time Grand Prix winner who contested NASCAR’s Cup Series from 2007 to 2013.
Other former F1 drivers including Dan Gurney, Kimi Räikkönen, Jenson Button, Jacques Villeneuve and Kamui Kobayashi have also tested or competed in NASCAR, underscoring the growing overlap between the two motorsport worlds.
Additional NASCAR Entries
Seven‑time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, now fielding a Legacy Motor Club entry, will share the San Diego grid, adding another layer of veteran presence to the event.
The upcoming race on June 21 will not only test the adaptability of these international drivers but also highlight NASCAR’s expanding global outreach, as the series embraces new formats and diverse talent on its most iconic tracks.