Justin Marks and Trackhouse Racing have tapped Kevin Magnussen, a 10-year veteran of the Formula One paddock, to compete in the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series event at Naval Base Coronado, located in San Diego, California, on Sunday, June 21.
The official announcement was made on Wednesday, June 3.
Magnussen will get behind the wheel of the No. 91 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, as part of Trackhouse Racing’s PROJECT91 program – a part-time NASCAR Cup Series entry created to bring an international flair to the series with drivers who have found great success in other forms of motorsports.
“I’m incredibly excited and honored to have the opportunity to compete in NASCAR,” said Magnussen. “What Justin Marks and Trackhouse have done with PROJECT91 is unique. To provide drivers from outside of the NASCAR world with a chance to compete at this level. I’m proud to have this opportunity.
“I’ve already spent time with the team in North Carolina – meeting everyone, doing the seat fit, going through pit stop procedures, and all the details that come with preparing for a NASCAR weekend. They’re an awesome group of people, incredibly dedicated, and just as excited about this debut as I am. I really can’t wait to get to San Diego and experience it all for the first time.”
The Roskilde, Denmark-native will become just the fourth driver to have competed in the NASCAR Cup Series under the PROJECT91 banner, joining the likes of four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves, three-time Australian Supercars champion Shane Van Gisbergen, and Formula One World Drivers Champion Kimi Raikkonen.
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. will serve as the primary sponsor of Magnussen’s No. 91 Chevrolet Camaro in the inaugural event at Naval Base Coronado. The company is also serving as an Official Circuit Partner of the NASCAR San Diego race weekend.
“PROJECT91 is about pushing boundaries – bringing world-class drivers, bold ideas, and cutting-edge technology into one of the most competitive arenas in racing. With Kevin Magnussen behind the wheel and Trackhouse leading the charge, we’re excited to showcase how Qualcomm’s AI-powered innovations can help teams unlock real-time insights and elevate performance on race day. From our hometown of San Diego to the global stage, this is a powerful example of how advanced computing and connectivity are transforming the future of motorsports,” said Don McGuire, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer, Qualcomm Incorporated.
In the entry’s five previous starts, Van Gisbergen fared the best, overall, winning on debut at the inaugural Chicago Street Course event in 2023 and following that up with a top 10 result at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. Those runs helped the Auckland, New Zealand-native transition into competing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, where he currently drives the No. 97 for Trackhouse Racing.
Phil Surgen, a long-time crew chief for Ross Chastain and Trackhouse Racing’s No. 1 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series, will serve as shot-caller for Magnussen.
Magnussen, 33, spent several years competing on a full-time basis in the Formula One World Driver’s Championship for various organizations, including McLaren (2014), Renault (2016), and Haas F1 Team (2017-2020, 2022-2024). In the 185 Grand Prix in Formula One, Magnussen collected a single podium – a second-place result at Albert Park in 2014 (which was his debut in F1).
Since departing Formula One at the end of 2024, Magnussen has been running sports cars in both the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship.
Now, NASCAR isn’t an unfamiliar destination for the Magnussen family. In 2010, Kevin’s father, Jan Magnussen, partnered with James Finch and Phoenix Racing for the NASCAR Cup Series event at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California, and put together an impressive 12th-place result in the No. 09 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet.
“I’m thrilled to be able to bring back PROJECT91 again this year, especially at San Diego,” said Marks. “We were waiting for the right opportunity with the right partner and driver to bring this PROJECT91 entry to fruition. Qualcomm is a worldwide brand, and Kevin Magnussen is a global driver, and both are elements we look for when it comes to running PROJECT91.”
