Tech Q&A: Chad Knaus

RICHMOND, Va. -- Richmond International Raceway is a one-of-a-kind racetrack, one defined by distance as a short track that races like a speedway.

It presents crew chiefs with a daunting setup, especially now. The track was repaved during the off-season, making for uncertainty heading into the Chevrolet American Revolution 400 weekend.

Team Lowe's Racing crew chief Chad Knaus sat down with NASCAR.com's Marty Smith to discuss the intricacies of one of NASCAR's toughest tracks, from what obstacles Richmond presents that other tracks don't to the importance of driver focus.

Q: Chad, Richmond is a unique venue, in that it's a short track with a speedway feel. Does that produce obstacles that other tracks don't?

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Chad Knaus: Yes, Richmond is really one of the toughest tracks we race on. It has high speeds -- 100 mph hour in the corners and 150-plus (mph) down the straightaways -- but is very tight, so you use a lot of brakes.

Richmond is a big rhythm track. Consistent laps are big. Once a driver gets it figured out, he can usually run well there all the time. Thing is, it takes some guys a long time to master racing there.

Q: Many folks feel like Richmond the perfect NASCAR track from a competition standpoint. Do you agree, and why or why not?

Knaus: It's a good track, but the racing is not always side-by-side like a lot of people like. There is a lot of bumping and banging though, and there's no doubt that fans love it there.

Q: What's the most important element to success at RIR? Handling or horsepower?

	Knaus and Johnson with team owner Rick Hendrick after winning at Darlington earlier this year. Credit: Autostock

Knaus: Handling is the most important part about Richmond. The driver is probably the biggest contributing factor to the handling, too. His entry into the corner is very, very important to the center and exiting the corner.

So if the car and driver do not run the same line on entrance every lap, it can be hard for the crew chief and driver to adjust the car. It's very intricate, and a very fine line between being good or off.

Q: And as a follow up to that, do the speeds at Richmond make aero more important there than at other short tracks?

Knaus: There is an aerodynamic element to Richmond, but I have seen some pretty beat up looking cars run well there in the past. So it's not nearly as important as handling.

Q: They repaved the track. I think you guys tested on it. How will it effect the performance and competition? Will there be more than one groove?

Knaus: Since they paved the track it is real smooth, so the shock packages will change some. The second groove will come in, but it will take a while.