Why Max Verstappen could make his NASCAR debut soon

Justin Marks and Trackhouse Racing began Project 91 as a way to bring world-class drivers from other racing disciplines to NASCAR. 

There may be no better definition of a world-class driver than Max Verstappen, the 28-year-old driver who already has 71 Formula 1 victories and four championships to his credit. 

The part-time No. 91 Trackhouse entry debuted with Kimi Raikkonnen in 2022. In 2023, Shane van Gisbergen drove the No. 91 in his now-infamous NASCAR Cup Series debut at the Chicago Street Course, which he ended up winning. Van Gisbergen, now a full-time Cup Series driver with Trackhouse, earned his seventh Cup victory Sunday at Watkins Glen. 

Helio Castroneves drove the No. 91 in the 2025 Daytona 500, which is the last time Project 91 made an appearance in a Cup Series race. 

But could that change in the near future?

Justin Marks, the owner of Trackhouse, was asked about the entry's future in a Sunday news conference at Watkins Glen. 

"I would say — I say don’t forget about Project 91. That’s all I’ll say right now," Marks said with a smile.

All of this information regarding Project 91 has little to do with Verstappen or Formula 1. His tie to a potential entry has to do with wings. 

Verstappen drives for Red Bull Racing in Formula 1. That's notable because the energy drink company is now a major player with Trackhouse, sponsoring van Gisbergen and rookie phenom Connor Zilisch. 

Why Max Verstappen could make NASCAR debut

Trackhouse's ability to bring in aforementioned world-class talent is obvious, as is the sponsor tie-in that Red Bull would be able to promote to the moon and back. It's also noteworthy that Verstappen, like many of his peers on the F1 grid, has voiced his displeasure with F1's new cars and regulations for 2026. 

Marks' coy remarks on Sunday may mean nothing. But all of the aforementioned factors, combined with the fact that Formula 1 is off the next time the NASCAR Cup Series goes road racing on June 21 at Naval Base Coronado, could point to Verstappen making what would be a highly-anticipated NASCAR debut.

If it were to happen, it's hard to argue that Verstappen's Cup Series debut wouldn't be the most anticipated in the sport's history. 

Quotes provided by NASCAR Media.