Interview

NASCAR Cup

Jimmie Johnson seems to be preparing for life after Chad Knaus

Jimmie Johnson sure sounds like a driver who is preparing for the possibility of having a new crew chief in the not-too-distant future.

Jim Utter

Edited: Jan 27, 2018, 12:17 AM

Copy link

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Chad Knaus

Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and Chad Knaus

Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Chad Knaus

Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Chad Knaus, crew chief

Last June, Hendrick Motorsports announced Johnson, a seven-time champion in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, had agreed to a three-year contract extension.

But there was no announcement regarding his crew chief, Chad Knaus, who has worked with Johnson since his first full-time season in Cup in 2002.

During this week’s Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour, Johnson, 42, seemed unsure whether the duo would remain in intact until Johnson’s retirement.

“I feel like crew chiefs have always lived in dog years, and I’m not sure where he’s going to be. I think his contract is up at the end of this year,” Johnson said of Knaus. “Of course I want him to push on.

“I keep telling him, ‘Man, I started this with you, I want to finish it with you.’ I’ll try to stretch him as long as I can.

“I guess I’m trying to subconsciously prepare that he’ll assume a different role at Hendrick, but I really don’t want to let that in.”

The 2017 season was a tough one for duo.

Johnson did win three races mid-way through the season and qualified for the playoffs but his four top-five and 11 top-10 finishes were career lows as a full-time driver. He ended up finishing 10th in the series standings.

“We kept hoping every stone we turned over would help us find our problem. What was so frustrating is I’ve never worked so hard in my life to get such little return,” Johnson said. “I know Chad can say the same and the team can.

“The efforts they put in, just mind-boggling. I’m so happy I have a group of guys to do that, to do anything possible. It just so frustrating when you don’t get anything for it. So, that was tough.”

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Viber

Previous article Allmendinger's confidence high ahead of Rolex 24 and Daytona 500

Next article Jack Roush to receive Tribute Award from N.C. Motorsports Association

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

Latest news

The surprising convergence behind F1's increasingly competitive 2026 season

Formula 1

The surprising convergence behind F1's increasingly competitive 2026 season

“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1 2 h

“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return

Myers Riley Motorsports adds Andretti alongside returning Fraga for 2027 IMSA GTD campaign

IMSA

IMSA IMSA 2 h

Myers Riley Motorsports adds Andretti alongside returning Fraga for 2027 IMSA GTD campaign

Las Vegas GP reveals neon sign-inspired trophy design

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Las Vegas GP

3 h

Las Vegas GP reveals neon sign-inspired trophy design

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Become a subscriber.
Disable your adblocker.

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts