Chad Knaus
Jimmie Johnson's crew chief: 81 wins and five consecutive championships.
Chad Anthony Knaus (born August 5, 1971) is an American former NASCAR crew chief. He is currently employed at Hendrick Motorsports as the Vice President of Competition. Knaus has 81 victories as Jimmie Johnson's crew chief and is the only NASCAR crew chief to win five consecutive championships. He has worked in NASCAR since 1991. Over this time, he has worked for four teams: Dale Earnhardt Incorporated, Melling Racing, Tyler Jet Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports. He has been a crew chief in NASCAR for 19 years and is considered to be one of the greatest NASCAR crew chiefs of all time. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 19, 2024. Serving as a rear tire changer on the original Rainbow Warriors pit crew, Knaus was a part of the 1995 and 1997 championship teams. 2018 would be Knaus and Johnson's final season together.
Quick Facts
- Born
- August 5, 1971
- Role
- Former NASCAR crew chief; Hendrick Motorsports Vice President of Competition
- With jimmie johnson
- 81 victories; the only crew chief to win five consecutive championships; final season together 2018
- Teams
- Dale Earnhardt Incorporated
- Melling Racing
- Tyler Jet Motorsports
- Hendrick Motorsports (since 1991)
- Hall of fame
- NASCAR Hall of Fame, January 19, 2024
Facts from the source article.
Did You Know?
- A few years and seven track championships later, Knaus moved to North Carolina in 1991 to pursue a job in national stock car racing.
- Johnson and Knaus scored five wins, 11 top-fives and 17 top-tens en route to their seventh Cup Series title.
- Johnson took the lead from Kyle Larson on the restart and Johnson won the race giving him and Knaus their record-tying seventh Cup Series championship putting Johnson alongside Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for most Cup Series titles.
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