Raikkonen to Make NASCAR Cup Debut at Watkins Glen

by
Peter Stratta
May 26, 2022

Photo Credit to PROJECT91 via Twitter

2007 F1 Champion Kimi Raikkonen to Make NASCAR Cup Debut with PROJECT91

CONCORD, North Carolina – After teasing their PROJECT91 effort to field international racing stars in the NASCAR Cup Series earlier this week, we now know Trackhouse Racing’s first candidate for this seat. On August 21 at Watkins Glen, 2007 Formula 1 Champion Kimi Raikkonen will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut in the No. 91 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. This one-off will be the lone attempt for this third All-Star car in 2022, with more starts and drivers expected in 2023 and beyond.

“I wasn’t looking to race again, but Justin [Marks, team co-owner] came to my home in Switzerland and convinced me how serious he was about putting together a top-notch program,” said Raikkonen. “This will be fun, but it’s something I will take very seriously. I know how competitive the NASCAR Cup Series is and it will be a big challenge.”

“Kimi Raikkonen is the driver I first had in mind when we created PROJECT91,” said Marks who won the Rolex 24 as well as a NASCAR Xfinity Series race as a driver. “Kimi is a world-renowned driver with a tremendous amount of talent and fan following. We have had long discussions, and like us, he is already hard at work preparing for Watkins Glen.”

Hailing from Finland, Kimi Raikkonen is a name very familiar to racing fans the world over. A 21-time F1 Grand Prix winner, Raikkonen won the 2007 World Driving title while racing for Ferrari. Raikkonen also made F1 starts with Sauber, McLaren, Lotus, and Alfa Romeo. Raikkonen’s F1 career ended after 2021, totaling 103 podium finishes.

This will amazingly not be ‘The Iceman’s’ first foray into the NASCAR ranks. Raikkonen has one start apiece in both Trucks and Xfinity, coming at Charlotte in May of 2011. The F1 legend placed 15th in the No. 15 Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports, and 27th in the No. 87 entry. Raikkonen’s last F1 win also came at Circuit of the America’s in 2018.

Raikkonen will surely bring a lot of global attention to the Go Bowling at the Glen, which will be August 21 on USA Network. Just how he does in this third Trackhouse car is a great unknown. However, it will be very entertaining to see an F1 legend in a Next Gen car on a road course.