Trackhouse Racing’s all-star Project 91 team is returning for the upcoming NASCAR race at Naval Base Coronado and will have former Formula One driver Kevin Magnussen behind the wheel.The 33-year-old Dane is set to make his debut in NASCAR’s premier Cup Series.Created by Trackhouse owner Justin Marks in 2022, the goal of Project 91 is to provide opportunities for notable drivers outside NASCAR to compete in the most popular form of motorsports in the United States and with a team that is capable of contending for race wins. Previous drivers include former F1 world champion Kimi Räikkönen, three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen, and three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves.Across two stints, Magnussen made 185 starts in Formula One and raced for McLaren, Renault and Haas, recording a career-best runner-up finish in the 2014 Australian Grand Prix — his maiden start in F1. He currently competes in top-flight sports car races as a factory driver for BMW where he has contested high-profile endurance races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.“I’m incredibly excited and honored to have the opportunity to compete in NASCAR,” Magnussen said in a statement. “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.“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.”Räikkönen made two starts for Project 91, both on road courses; his first at Watkins Glen in 2022, then at the Circuit of the Americas the following year. Castroneves’ lone start came in the 2025 Daytona 500.But it was what van Gisbergen did in his Project 91 debut that showcased the full capabilities of the team and why elite drivers around the globe have expressed interest in the program. Despite having zero NASCAR experience, the New Zealander won the 2023 race on the Chicago Street Course, drawing widespread acclaim from those within the garage. This then jumpstarted van Gisbergen’s interest in NASCAR, and in 2024 he made the full-time shift to NASCAR where he now competes full-time for Trackhouse in Cup.Similar to how van Gisbergen debuted on a brand-new NASCAR circuit, thereby negating some of the disadvantages that come with racing in a series for the first time, Magnussen will have the same opportunity at San Diego.The 16-turn, 3.4-mile course is being built on an active military base in the San Diego area, and no driver has yet turned in an actual lap on the temporary circuit. The length of the track also makes it the longest on the Cup schedule.The race weekend is June 19-21.Jun 3, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms