
via Getty
Jimmie Johnson, Team Owner Rick Hendrick and Crew Chief Chad Knauss pose with the trophy after winning the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. (Photo by Brian A. Westerholt/Getty Images)

via Getty
Jimmie Johnson, Team Owner Rick Hendrick and Crew Chief Chad Knauss pose with the trophy after winning the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. (Photo by Brian A. Westerholt/Getty Images)
One of the keys to success in NASCAR is the partnership between the driver and his crew chief. While Jeff Gordon has known it pretty well with his on-track experience, he has been lucky to have witnessed it in the best form through his teammates. Jimmie Johnson and his former crew chief, Chad Knaus, rocked the sport with their partnership as the duo edged closer to being inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Johnson and Knaus had a stellar time during the former’s racing time at Hendrick Motorsports. While their success story remains unmatched, Gordon detailed what made the duo click better than most.
Remembering 17 seasons and 81 wins as the pair prepare for their NASCAR Hall of Fame induction
Together, Chad Knaus and Jimmie Johnson participated in over 17 seasons, registering 81 wins. What’s most amazing is that they won seven Cup Series championships, with five back-to-back victories from 2006 to 2010. Naturally, it is an achievement to be proud of, and no one’s happier for them than their former teammate, Jeff Gordon.
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Speaking just a couple of days before Knaus and Johnson were inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Jeff Gordon deep-dived into what made them a terrific pair. As per Hendrickmotorsports.com, the 52-year-old said, “I got firsthand to see what Chad (Knaus), Jimmie (Johnson) and that 48 team did. They didn’t just do it once or twice, it was year after year after year. Once they got on that roll, they just didn’t stop.”
There were times when people believed their streak would come to an end. However, Johnson and Knaus continued to outsmart their achievements. Gordon continued, “You kept saying no way they do it again. It is just not possible and yet they did. That just goes to show you how much trust there was with that team and how much drive and passion that they had.”
While it was not an easy job to continuously win like that, Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus made it look relatively easy. Gordon explained how they managed to do that. He said, “They were not only willing to take the resources and make the most of them here. They were willing to continue to outwork their competitors and push the limits of themselves every year, which inevitably pushed their competitors too and still come out on top for five years in a row.”
WATCH THIS STORY: Jimmie Johnson Reveals His Favorite NASCAR Moment of the Year
Even Hendrick Motorsports team president Jeff Andrews had some positive words to share for the legendary duo.
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Chad Knaus and Jimmie Johnson take Hendrick Motorsports’ NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee count into double digits
This Friday, Chad Knaus and Jimmie Johnson become the 10th and 11th full-time members of Hendrick Motorsports to be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. While words don’t suffice for the duo’s greatness, team president Jeff Andrews showered a lot of praise on them.
Jeff Andrews said, “It is a tremendous honor for both of them. I was here to witness the start of their partnership. Their performance and achievements on the racetrack speak for themselves. The chemistry the two of them had and their faith in each other was on another level. They had you beat almost before you got to the racetrack because of how much they believed in each other. “
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The time has come to enshrine three legends of our incredible sport.
Donnie Allison, @JimmieJohnson and Chad Knaus will be inducted into the #NASCARHOF on Friday. pic.twitter.com/rQBs6S2tvE
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) January 16, 2024
Knaus and Johnson worked so well in tandem that not many could compete with them back then. Andrews added, “The level of commitment and the dedication that I watched them put into this sport is a tremendous testament to both of them. In my eyes during that time, nobody was working harder in this sport than Chad Knaus and Jimmie Johnson.”
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READ MORE – 22 Years Ago Today, Hendrick Motorsports Made an Announcement That Changed NASCAR Forever
Truly, Knaus and Johnson deserve every bit of the praise that they have received. With their induction on Friday, the former Hendrick Motorsports duo will enter the NASCAR Hall of Fame in the presence of some legendary names in the sport. The event will be streamed live on Peacock and will also be broadcast on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
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