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LOUDON, NH – JUNE 27: Jimmie Johnson (R), driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, talks with crew chief Chad Knaus on the grid prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)
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LOUDON, NH – JUNE 27: Jimmie Johnson (R), driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, talks with crew chief Chad Knaus on the grid prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LENOX Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)
The 7-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson returns to compete in the Rolex 24 at Daytona next week. Joining him in this journey will be a good friend and former Crew Chief at Hendrick Motorsports, Chad Knaus.
Considered to be one of the best Crew Chiefs of all time, Johnson won 81 races and 7 Cup Series titles with Knaus atop the pit box. Needless to say, their combination comes across as one of the most iconic duos in NASCAR history.
During practice, Johnson took the time out to share a post of his old colleague in the control setup for his racing team. The 45-year-old sure does seem excited to be working with Knaus once again.
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Jimmie Johnson has some memorable moments with Knaus
Johnson’s post read, “The band is back together.@chadknaus #48 @AX_Racing.” The photo sees a smiling Knaus working whilst on the team pit wall for Action Express Racing.
In a career that spanned 19 seasons, it is interesting to note that Knaus has been associated with Jimmie from the very start of his Cup Series career. Despite the initial few seasons not going per plan, both Knaus and Johnson continued to believe in their abilities.
The band is back together.@chadknaus #48 @AX_Racing pic.twitter.com/dUB2e8gC1q
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) January 22, 2021
It ultimately bore fruit in 2006, when the former Hendrick Motorsports No.48 clinched his first-ever Cup Series title. What followed after were 4 more championships and to this day, Knaus remains the only Crew Chief to win 5 consecutive Cup Series titles.
Knaus later became William Byron’s Crew Chief for 2 seasons
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The 49-year-old Crew Chief continued his association with Johnson up until the 2018 season. Following that golden run of 5 back-to-back titles, both entities added 2 more titles in 2013 and 2016.
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DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 16: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s for Pros Chevrolet, talks to his crew chief, Chad Knaus, during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
Hendrick Motorsports then decided to reallocate Knaus’ duties to act as William Byron’s Crew Chief. Later in 2020, the team moved to ensure his services in a ‘Vice President of Competition’ capacity.
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Regardless, the sportscar endurance championship flagship event should prove to be a promising venture for both Johnson and Knaus. More than anything, they would once again enjoy working together, just as they did in the good old days.
READ MORE- NASCAR Champ Chase Elliott Plans to ‘Lean On’ Jimmie Johnson Once Again in Rolex 24 at Daytona Debut
