Chad Knaus wearing a mask and red ear protectors

Chad Knaus through the years

By Staff Report | Published: 5 Aug, 2022 20

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

1 of 20

Jeff Gordon won the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway in 1995. His team wore their “Refuse to Lose” T-shirts in Victory Lane, including tire changer Chad Knaus, left.

ISC Images and Archives

Jeff Gordon won the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway in 1995. His teammates wore their "Refuse to Lose" T-shirts in Victory Lane, including tire changer Chad Knaus (left).

2 of 20

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 12: Stacy Compton #92 drives a Dodge Untrepid for Melling Racing talks with his crew chief Chad Knaus in the garage during the Daytona 500 Speedweeks on February 12, 2001 at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

Robert Laberge | Getty Images

Chad Knaus moved from crew member to crew chief full time in 2001, guiding Stacy Compton's No. 92 Dodge crew for Melling Racing.

3 of 20

TALLADEGA, AL - OCTOBER 19: Stacy Compton, driver of the #92 Mark Melling Racing Dodge Intrepid R/T, poses with his crew chief Chad Knaus, to the right of Compton, and his team after winning the pole for Sunday's EA Sports 500 on October 19, 2001 at the Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Jamie Squire | Getty Images

Stacy Compton and Chad Knaus won two poles in their first full season together, both at Talladega Superspeedway.

4 of 20

14 FEB 2002: Jimmie Johnson driving the #48 car during Gatorade Twin 125s qualifying race for the NASCAR Winston Cup Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida. DIGITAL IMAGE - Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images | Getty Images

Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images

Chad Knaus and Jimmie Johnson became a team in 2002, and they started with a bang, putting the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet on the pole for the Daytona 500.

5 of 20

28 Apr 2002: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Gordon Racing Lowe's Chevrolet Monte Carlo, celebrates his victory in the NAPA Auto Parts 500, part of the Nascar Winston Cup Series, at California Speedway in Fontana, California. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Donald Miralle/Getty Images | Getty Images

Donald Miralle | Getty Images

Nine races later, Chad Knaus and Jimmie Johnson got their first win together in the NAPA Auto Parts 500 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.

6 of 20

HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 19: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the # 48 Lowes Chevrolet and his crew chief Chad Knaus, during practice for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Ford 400 on November 19, 2004 at the Homestead Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Rusty Jarrett | Getty Images

The fiery mix of personalities was there from the start, as well. Team owner Rick Hendrick said Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus "fought like brothers" through their 17 seasons as a driver and crew chief pair. But they also won. A lot.

7 of 20

NEW YORK - DECEMBER 01: (L-R) Jimmie Johnson, the 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Champion, and his crew chief Chad Knaus, with the Nextel Cup trophy, at the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Awards Ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, on December 1, 2006 in New York City (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) | Getty Images

Rusty Jarrett | Getty Images for NASCAR

Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus won the first of their amazing five consecutive premier-series championships in 2006. They put together three wins, 10 top fives and 20 top 10s.

8 of 20

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 30: Jimmie Johnson (L), the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion, and his crew chief, Chad Knaus pose next to the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet and the NASCAR Nextel Cup Trophy prior to the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Awards Ceremony outside the Waldorf Astoria on November 30, 2007 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images for NASCAR) | Getty Images

Chris Trotman | Getty Images for NASCAR

In 2007, the pair really blew the competition away with 10 wins -- their best-ever total in a single season -- along with 18 top-five finishes and 22 top 10s.

9 of 20

TALLADEGA, AL - APRIL 25: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, speaks with crew chief Chad Knaus, during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 25, 2008 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Kevin C. Cox | Getty Images

Chad Knaus' ability to set up the No. 48 Chevrolet in qualifying trim contributed greatly to Jimmie Johnson's third consecutive championship -- they racked up six poles in 2008, the most of their seasons together.

10 of 20

DOVER, DE - MAY 31: Jimmie Johnson (R), driver of the #48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, poses with crew chief Chad Knaus in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Autism Speaks 400 at Dover International Speedway on May 31, 2009 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR) | Getty Images

Jason Smith | Getty Images for NASCAR

On the way to a fourth consecutive title in 2009, Chad Knaus and Jimmie Johnson won at both Charlotte Motor Speedway and Dover International Speedway, where they dominated for more than a decade.

11 of 20

FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 07: Crew members of the #24 DuPont/National Guard Chevrolet pit the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, driven by Jimmie Johnson, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 7, 2010 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images for NASCAR) | Getty Images

Tom Pennington | Getty Images for NASCAR

Chad Knaus became known for his ingenuity, and one of his most famous decisions was swapping pit crew members on the No. 48 team and the No. 24 team in the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 7, 2010. At the time, Jimmie Johnson was running for a title and Jeff Gordon's hopes for a championship had faltered. Pulling out all the stops brought home that fifth consecutive championship for the No. 48 team.

12 of 20

HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 17: Jimmie Johnson (L), driver of the #48 Lowe's/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet, poses with crew chief Chad Knaus (R) in Champions Victory Lane with their six trophies after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 17, 2013 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/NASCAR via Getty Images)

Jeff Zelevansky | NASCAR via Getty Images

Winning a championship never gets old. Nor does celebrating one. Cheers to No. 6 in 2013.

13 of 20

Jimmie Johnson via Twitter

The year 2015 brought big personal news for Chad Knaus as he and Brooke Werner were married in August.

14 of 20

FONTANA, CA - MARCH 20: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's / Superman Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane with crew chief Chad Knaus after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on March 20, 2016 in Fontana, California. (Photo by Jonathan Moore/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jonathan Moore | Getty Images

Jimmie Johnson may have worn the cape for his 77th win that passed Dale Earnhardt's career victory tally, but Chad Knaus' superhuman savvy played into the record, as well, and they broke open champagne at the Auto Club 400 on March 20, 2016 in Fontana, California. Johnson tied Cale Yarborough at 83 career wins -- only two of which came without Knaus.

15 of 20

LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 30: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion crew chief Chad Knaus and Brooke Werner pose in front of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign during NASCAR Champion's Week on November 30, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/NASCAR via Getty Images)

Jonathan Ferrey | NASCAR via Getty Images

And the super duo won another championship in 2016: No. 7 together. Brooke and Chad Knaus posed with the No. 48 Chevrolet under the famous "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign during Champion's Week.

16 of 20

Brooke Knaus via Instagram

Big change came early in 2018 as Kip Knaus was born Aug. 28, 2018, expanding the Knaus family to three, just in time for Chad Knaus to get used to working with really young talent as he moved to a pairing with William Byron in 2019.

17 of 20

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 10: William Byron, driver of the #24 Axalta Chevrolet, talks with crew chief Chad Knaus during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 61st Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 10, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sean Gardner | Getty Images

In the 2019 season, Chad Knaus returned to the No. 24 Chevrolet team to work with William Byron. The two qualified for the NASCAR Playoffs and posted five pole positions in their first year together.

18 of 20

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - AUGUST 29: William Byron, driver of the #24 Liberty University Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on August 29, 2020 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

William Byron broke through for his first NASCAR Cup Series victory in 2020, prevailing in the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway. The win was Chad Knaus' first with someone other than Jimmie Johnson. It also extended his streak of playoff appearances to 17 consecutive seasons.

19 of 20

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

Chad Knaus took on a new role in 2021, stepping down from the pit box and up as the vice president of competition for Hendrick Motorsports. Under his watch, Hendrick was the organization to beat for the bulk of the 2021 season, culminating with Kyle Larson's first championship.

20 of 20

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 09: Crew chief Chad Knaus stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series 62nd Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 09, 2020 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

From crew chief to vice president, enjoy this look back at Hendrick Motorsports seven-time champion Chad Knaus' career.

Previous Race

Next Race

Upcoming Races

Standings

Current Driver Standings

Current Playoff Standings

Manufacturer Leader

Owner Leader

Chad Knaus through the years