After years competing at the highest levels of motorsports, former Formula 1 driver Kevin Magnussen is finally getting his shot in NASCAR. The Danish racing veteran will make his Cup Series debut with Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91 program at San Diego.
Kevin Magnussen has raced Formula 1 cars, sports cars and some of the most demanding circuits in the world.
Soon, he’ll add NASCAR to that list.
Trackhouse Racing announced Wednesday that Magnussen will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut in the organization’s No. 91 Project 91 Chevrolet during the inaugural street race weekend at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego.
The announcement gives NASCAR another high-profile international crossover story and adds a globally recognized name to one of the sport’s most ambitious initiatives.
For Magnussen, the opportunity represents a chance to experience a form of racing he has long admired from afar.
“I’m incredibly excited and honored to have the opportunity to compete in NASCAR,” Magnussen said in a team release. “What Justin Marks and Trackhouse have done with Project 91 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.”
The former Formula 1 driver said he has already begun preparing for his Cup Series debut by spending time with the Trackhouse organization in North Carolina.
“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,” Magnussen said. “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.”
Kevin Magnussen Brings World-Class Experience to NASCAR
While many fans know Magnussen from Formula 1, his racing résumé extends far beyond the F1 paddock.
The Danish driver made 185 Formula 1 starts between 2014 and 2024, competing for McLaren, Renault and Haas. He burst onto the scene with a podium finish in his Formula 1 debut and spent more than a decade competing against many of the sport’s biggest stars.
Since leaving full-time Formula 1 competition, Magnussen has remained one of the most respected drivers in international motorsports.
He currently serves as a BMW factory driver in sports car competition and was part of the winning lineup at the Rolex 24 at Daytona earlier this year. His versatility across multiple disciplines made him a natural fit for Trackhouse’s Project 91 program.
Magnussen is not completely unfamiliar with NASCAR machinery.
Following a previous test in NASCAR’s Next Gen car, he spoke openly about the challenge of adapting from Formula 1 to stock car racing.
“NASCAR, it’s a different animal to a Formula One car,” Magnussen said after the test. “That’s what we’re used to. When you drive in NASCAR, as a Formula One driver, it’s like you’ve never driven a race car before. It’s completely different.”
He added: “Everything you know is out of the window. It’s a lot of fun. You’ve got to relearn everything again, and it’s like driving a race car for the first time. It’s awesome.”
Those comments offer some insight into what Magnussen will face when he climbs into the No. 91 Chevrolet for his Cup Series debut in San Diego.
“I’m incredibly excited and honored to have the opportunity to compete in NASCAR,” Magnussen said in a team release. “What Justin Marks and Trackhouse have done with Project 91 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.”
Magnussen’s debut is the latest example.
Project 91 Continues to Expand NASCAR’s Global Reach
Trackhouse launched Project 91 with a simple goal: bring internationally recognized drivers into NASCAR and create moments that resonate beyond the sport’s traditional fan base.
Few expected the program to make such an immediate impact.
Shane van Gisbergen stunned the motorsports world when he won his Cup Series debut on the streets of Chicago in 2023. Since then, Project 91 has featured drivers from Formula 1, IndyCar and sports car racing, helping establish NASCAR as a destination for elite competitors from around the globe.
Magnussen is the latest example of that trend.
His arrival also comes at a significant moment for NASCAR.
The San Diego street race is already one of the most anticipated additions to the 2026 schedule. Bringing a former Formula 1 veteran into the field only adds another layer of intrigue to a weekend that is expected to attract attention well beyond NASCAR’s core audience.
While Magnussen brings extensive road-course experience, adapting to a NASCAR Cup Series car presents an entirely different challenge. The learning curve will be steep, particularly on a temporary street circuit where mistakes can be costly.
That uncertainty is part of what makes the story compelling.
Magnussen has succeeded everywhere he has raced. Now he will attempt to do something many international stars have considered but few have actually done: climb into a NASCAR Cup Series car and compete against the best stock car drivers in the world.
For years, NASCAR has worked to increase its visibility on the global motorsports stage.
On race weekend in San Diego, one of Formula 1’s most recognizable recent veterans will get a firsthand look at how far the sport has come.