Kevin Magnussen, the former Formula 1 driver, will prepare for his first race in the NASCAR Cup behind the wheel of the number 91 Chevrolet from Trackhouse Racing. This race will take place on June 21 at a new street circuit, designed inside the Coronado Naval Base in San Diego, a historic fact as it is the first time a NASCAR race is held on an active military base.
Magnussen will join a team of prominent drivers, including Ross Chastain, Shane van Gisbergen, and Connor Zilisch. This will be the fourth occasion Trackhouse Racing has utilized the Project 91 program, designed to give world-class drivers the opportunity to enter the world of NASCAR. Previously, the project featured drivers such as Van Gisbergen, Kimi Räikkönen, and Helio Castroneves, with Van Gisbergen standing out with a victory in his debut at the Chicago Street Course in 2023.
Originally from Roskilde, Denmark, Magnussen has an extensive career with 185 races in Formula 1 between 2014 and 2024, including a podium finish in his first race and a pole position obtained with Haas at the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix. He currently competes full-time in the World Endurance Championship, where he recently achieved a second place at Spa with the BMW M Team WRT.
For his debut, the number 91 car will feature sponsor Qualcomm Technologies, and Phil Surgen, who guided Chastain to six victories in NASCAR, will be his crew chief. Magnussen has expressed his enthusiasm for this opportunity: “I am extremely excited and honored to be able to compete in NASCAR. What Justin Marks and Trackhouse have created with PROJECT91 is unique, allowing drivers from other disciplines the chance to compete at this level.”
Additionally, his family’s experience in racing, with his father Jan making a foray into NASCAR in 2010, adds a personal touch to this new chapter of his career.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
