This Sunday at Naval Base Coronado, ex-F1 driver Kevin Magnussen is ready to tackle one thing fully totally different as he races a NASCAR Cup Sequence automotive for the very first time, driving the No. 91 Qualcomm Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing.
Along with racing in Components 1 for a full decade, the 33-year-old Dane has made a number of begins throughout each WEC throughout IMSA, and even competed in an IndyCar race in the course of the 2021 season. However this weekend, he’ll be a part of the sector of 39 entries for the first-ever NASCAR Cup race on an lively army base, racing round a 3.4-mile avenue course.
Magnussen will likely be competing with Trackhouse Racing as a teammate to Shane van Gisbergen, Ross Chastain, and Connor Zilisch. Simply final weekend, he was in France competing within the 94th version of the Le Mans 24 with the BMW Hypercar group.
The group has posted varied movies of Ok-Magazine’s preparation for San Diego, working towards pit stops and getting fitted for his customized race seat.
“I’m extremely excited and honored to have the chance to compete in NASCAR, so an enormous thanks to Trackhouse Racing and Justin Marks for giving me this opportunity,” mentioned Magnussen. “I’ve all the time been interested in exploring totally different types of motorsport, and NASCAR is without doubt one of the most iconic racing collection on this planet with an extremely passionate fanbase.
“I’ve already hung out with the group in North Carolina – assembly everybody, doing the seat match, going by pit cease procedures and all the main points that include making ready for a NASCAR weekend. They’re an superior group of individuals, extremely devoted, and simply as enthusiastic about this debut as I’m. I actually can’t wait to get to San Diego and expertise all of it for the primary time.”
Trackhouse has a powerful document on street and avenue programs, with Van Gisbergen successful six of the final seven on the Cup Sequence schedule. Chastain’s first Cup win additionally got here on a street course, as did Daniel Suarez’s again when he used to drive for the group.
Magnussen goes into the race weekend with zero time on-track, and he may have only one 50-minute observe on Friday earlier than qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday.
“It’s a self-discipline that differs lots from what I’m used to, so there’s been loads to be taught already,” mentioned Magnussen concerning the problem forward of him. “My father (Jan) had the chance to race in NASCAR again in 2010, and I’ve heard him speak about that have with a lot enthusiasm through the years, which solely made me much more all for attempting it myself someday. I’m coming into this with completely no NASCAR expertise, and we haven’t had the chance to check the automotive on observe beforehand, so my first laps will come throughout observe. Meaning it’s going to be a reasonably intense introduction, however fortunately, we’re heading to the one avenue race on the calendar, which is one thing I’m very acquainted with from my years in Components 1.”
Phil Surgen, who led Chastain to all six of his Cup wins between 2022 and 2025, will work alongside Magnussen as his crew chief for this weekend’s San Diego race.
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