Chad Knaus - Bio

Crew Chief, No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
 

Age	38	Birthdate	August 5, 1971
Hometown	Rockford, IL	Residence	Mooresville, NC
Marital Status	Single

 
In 2008, Chad Knaus put his name firmly in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series record books by becoming the first crew chief in the sport’s history to win three-successive Cup titles. Another extraordinary run in 2009 further distinguished him among the sport’s greats after he helped lead his No. 48 Lowe’s team and driver Jimmie Johnson to a fourth-consecutive championship in their eighth season together.

The Rockford, Ill.-native and his team earned seven wins and four pole awards with Johnson piloting the No. 48 Lowe’s Impala in 2009. Knaus has more wins in his Sprint Cup Series career than any other crew chief and the 47 victories he and Johnson recorded in their seven seasons together are 22 more than any other crew chief-driver combination in that time.

In 288 Sprint Cup starts with Johnson, Knaus’ record includes 47 wins, 23 poles, 117 top-five and 180 top-10 results. They have also finished in the top five in the point standings each season since the pair joined forces in 2002.

The team’s historic run of consecutive championships began in 2006 when Knaus and team earned their first title after four straight years of finishing second (2003, 2004) and fifth (2002, 2005) in the point standings. The year included five wins, one pole, 13 top-five and 24 top-10 finishes including wins in the sport’s two most prestigious events - the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400.

The championship run in 2007 was equally impressive as the team won four of the final five races in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and ended the season with 10 wins, four poles, 20 top-five and 24 top-10 finishes.

When the 2008 season rolled around, Knaus and Johnson were ready to make history. And they did – with Knaus becoming the first crew chief and Johnson the second driver in NASCAR’s history to take home three-consecutive Sprint Cup titles. They finished the historic season with seven wins, six poles, 15 top five and 22 top-10 finishes.

Knaus’ rise to the top, however, started like most in the sport. Born in Illinois, his introduction to racing was immediate as he followed his father, John, around the local Midwest tracks, helping out when he could and anxiously watching when he couldn’t.

Knaus’ desire for racing continued throughout his adolescence and at age 14 his future success in NASCAR was foreshadowed when he served as crew chief for his father. That year the elder Knaus captured the Rockford Speedway championship with his son calling the shots from the pits.  The father-son combination went on to many more victories, capturing the NASCAR Great Northern Series championship and finishing second in the Winston Racing Series.

Knaus’ ascent began after high school graduation. Spurred on by his success in the Midwest with his father, Knaus moved to North Carolina in search of more racing glory.

Working for his uncle, Knaus held a steady job but couldn’t break into the elite ranks of racing. He was even offered a job as a corporate engineer but decided that racing was his true calling. A brief trip back to Illinois was just that and in 1991 he moved to Alabama, working for Stanley Smith’s stock car team as a mechanic and fabricator.

In 1993, Knaus’ determination paid off. The No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team, led by crew chief Ray Evernham and driver Jeff Gordon, called and Knaus answered. From 1993 to 1998, Knaus assumed a variety of duties. He started in the body shop as an assistant, gradually working his way through the ranks to the fabrication department. Eventually, he was put in charge of the body development for the No. 24 car and served as a tire changer for the team, proving an integral part of the 1995 and 1997 championship teams.

After the 1997 season, Knaus reluctantly left Hendrick Motorspsorts seeking further advancement in the sport. The organization was stocked with a solid staff but Rick Hendrick vowed that he would one day bring Knaus back.

The Illinois native spent the next few years gaining valuable experience throughout the industry. He initially joined Dale Earnhardt, Inc. as a car chief for driver Steve Park. From there he teamed up with new team owner Evernham and in 2000 helped Casey Atwood with his limited run in the Cup series. The following year, Knaus began working as crew chief with Melling Racing driver Stacy Compton, winning several speedway poles.

The desire to return to Hendrick Motorsports proved too much and in 2002 Knaus rejoined the organization as crew chief for Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet.

Knaus had an immediate impact, leading the rookie team to unprecedented success in 2002. That season the team earned three wins, four poles, six top-five and 21 top-10s finishes.  As a result, Knaus took home crew chief of the year honors.

Putting to rest any talk of a sophomore slump the team vaulted up the point standings in 2003, finishing second with three wins, two poles, 14 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes.

The 2004 season proved another winning one as the team won eight races, one pole, 20 top fives and 23 top 10s. The team, who earned pit crew of the year honors, led the points through most of the season and pulled out a nail biting performance in the final race for a run at the championship, finishing a mere eight points out of the top spot.

Nearly two decades after he and his dad won their first championship, Knaus would be called champion again. However, this time it would be in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as the leader of the No. 48 Lowe’s team, winner of four back-to-back championships in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.