For the reason that Subsequent Gen automotive debuted in 2022, it has attracted the eye of a variety of former F1 drivers. This weekend at Naval Base Coronado, Kevin Magnussen would be the newest to attempt to make the change.
In 2022, NASCAR instantly noticed the newly developed Subsequent Gen automotive entice F1 expertise. Daniil Kvyat made three begins with Crew Hezeberg within the No. 26 Toyota, with a finest end of P36 at Watkins Glen. After all, 2022 was additionally the debut of the Mission 91 automotive from Trackhouse Racing, which Magnussen will drive this weekend at Coronado.
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2007 F1 champion, Kimi Raikkonen, made his debut at Watkins Glen within the 91 automotive. His profession finest got here at COTA in 2023 when he completed P29. Raikkonen had beforehand made two NASCAR begins in 2011 for Motorsports within the Nationwide and Truck Collection at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
In 2023, Kimi was again to race at Circuit of the Americas. This time, Jenson Button, the 2009 F1 champion joined him. Button raced the No. 15 automotive for Rick Ware Racing with help from Stewart-Haas Racing on the time. Button raced thrice that season, together with at Chicago and the Indy Street Course. He completed a profession excessive P16 in his debut.
It was additionally in 2023 the place Kamui Kobayashi made his Cup Collection debut. Regarded extra for his endurance racing profession than his time in F1, Kamui spent 4 years full-time within the sequence. A two-time winner within the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Kobayashi got here again in 2024 to race at COTA for a career-best end of P29.
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Expectations for Kevin Magnussen
Kimi Raikkonen racing within the Mission 91 automotive for Trackhouse Racing at COTA.(Photograph by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs)
There are numerous components that go right into a race weekend. The ultimate outcomes not often inform the entire story. Kevin Magnussen, primarily based on the expertise of those different one-off drivers with related racing backgrounds, has a troublesome activity forward of him.
Nobody is anticipating Magnussen to drag a Shane van Gisbergen and win in his debut. That is not a good expectation to placed on anybody. Nonetheless, Magnussen is a really gifted racer, each throughout his time in F1 and as an endurance racer. So, there’s at all times the possibility that he’ll carry out properly and be aggressive. Perhaps not contend for a win, however hovering across the top-10 could be a large accomplishment.
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One factor most of the former F1 drivers notice shortly, the physicality is not like something they’ve skilled. NASCAR will get down and soiled on highway and road programs, particularly. It’s the nice equalizer between finesse and method, and brute drive and velocity. He won’t get that in his .
Kevin Magnussen goes to should get his elbows up and be ready to get hit and to perform a little hitting. Ask these different F1 drivers the second lesson all of them discovered? Keep away from Ricky Stenhouse Jr. He has one way or the other spun out all of those drivers with maybe Kvyat being the exception.
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What are truthful expectations for Magnussen in his debut? Full the entire laps? High-20? Trackhouse Racing has struggled with velocity on the ovals, however they’ve a few secret weapons on the appropriate turns in SVG and Connor Zilisch. With these two as teammates, maybe Magnussen has a greater probability to compete than he is being given credit score for.
This story was initially printed by on Jun 18, 2026, the place it first appeared within the part. Add Athlon Sports activities as a
