Magnussen was roped in for the inaugural Race the Base 250 via Trackhouse Racing’s popular Project91 initiative.
During the 75-lap race, Magnussen and Gragson collided on multiple occasions.
During Stage 1, Gragson appeared to brake-check Magnussen. Two laps later, Magnussen tried to pass Gragson into the chicane but got nudged out of the way on the switchback.
With two laps to go in Stage 2, Magnussen returned serve and tipped Gragson into a spin.
Gragson hit the wall and suffered race-ending damage to the right front corner of the #4 Front Row Motorsports Ford Mustang.
“These open-wheel guys, they get fenders on their cars, they get bumpers, and we’re running 30th, and they’re driving up the inside, barrelling it up the inside,” said Gragson.
Secure your spot today.
“We could all out-brake each other but they’re pinballing it, they’re blasting our inside doors.
“I don’t know why that is, but the #91 kept barreling off in there. Then hit me again late in the race, ending our day. We’ll see.”
After those comments to the media, Gragson confronted Magnussen.
He repeatedly asked what his problem was, to which the Danish driver replied multiple times, “F*** around and find out. Get out of my face.”
Noah Gragson confronted Kevin Magnussen post race
“What the f*** is your problem?”#NASCAR #Anduril250 pic.twitter.com/owi4olw4Zx
— Dalton Hopkins (@PitLaneCPT) June 22, 2026
They continued to exchange pleasantries before a member of Gragson’s team told their driver they were done with the interaction.
Magnussen later laughed off the confrontation. Asked what was said, he replied, “A whole lot of stuff that I can’t say on camera.”
Magnussen said he hadn’t had an experience like that before but knew what to expect.
“I’ve watched NASCAR before so I know it’s how you guys play it. It is what it is,” he laughed.
“He was playing a bit stupid out there. He could have had a good race but he chose not to.
“I felt like I was in a fist fight the whole race through. Honestly, everyone was driving so well.
“It’s tough racing, but people are respectful, they’re hard, you can’t mess around, you’ll find out.
“I like that kind of racing and big respect to everyone except that one guy. I’ll deal with that.”
“Honestly, it was dumb because I think what pissed him off was that I bumped him. I went in, I dived in, and after I dived, he closed the door and bumped him.
“I said, okay, fine, but then that ruined his whole race.
“He basically was messing around under the caution and slamming my door and I thought he could get it out of his system and carry on but he didn’t. He ended up where he ended up.”
Gragson was classified 35th while Magnussen went on to finish 27th in a bruising race for Trackhouse.
Reflecting on the 75-lap epic, Magnussen said he wished he could have had his time all over again.
“It would have been so much better if we could start the race again now, he said.
“I learned so much about the car in the race. I felt so much more confident with everything towards the end of the race. I understood the car.
“I did the fastest lap of the race by quite a margin. The pace was there, the car was really good. I’m just super happy to get the opportunity to race in NASCAR.”
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