Chad Knaus finally a Daytona 500 champion crew chief
For perhaps the first time, Chad Knaus seemed out of place in Victory Lane. As if he was there for the first time, not the 59th with driver Jimmie Johnson. That’s because in this case, Knaus was there for the first time, experiencing Victory Lane at Daytona as a rookie.
Knaus has had many labels thrust upon him. He’s been called numerous things throughout his career. But until Sunday night in Daytona he had yet to be called a Daytona 500 champion.
Johnson finally changed that, winning the Daytona 500 after holding off a charging teammate in Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin. For Johnson, it was his second win in the Great American Race, but the first with Knaus atop the pit box.
In 2006 when Johnson won the race, Knaus was sitting at home. NASCAR had suspended him when the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet failed post-qualifying inspection, the rear window having been found to be too low. Officials sent him home and Johnson went on to win the event a week later with Darian Grubb as interim crew chief.
Johnson even joked at the time that Knaus was probably kicking his TV, but that he had been a big a part as any as to why Johnson was in Victory Lane. This time around though, Knaus was there to celebrate in person.
“I eat, sleep and breathe 48. Anytime that I’m taken away from that racecar, I’m pretty sad,” revealed Knaus after the 500 win. “But when those guys were able to come down here and win the Daytona 500 in 2006 in my absence, I think that really solidified the strength of the 48 car.
“Was I here? No. Was I here in spirit? Most definitely. I couldn’t have been prouder of the group of guys we had there. To finally be able to come down here and win and be a part of this is definitely a huge dream come true.
“It’s great. It’s a lot of fun. It’s a great experience. I just couldn’t be prouder of everybody involved.”
Knaus and Johnson have had success at Daytona, just not recently. In their first season together in 2002, they became the first rookies to sit on the pole for the Daytona 500. They earned their second pole in 2008. In 2005 they won the Sprint Unlimited and added a Budweiser Duel win in 2010.
Their Daytona 500 history however, has been rougher. Following the 2006 win Johnson had finished 27th or worse in the last seven races before winning on Sunday, mostly from bad fortune. To start last season, Johnson’s car again failed inspection and NASCAR confiscated their c-posts. This time however, Knaus escaped suspension but Johnson crashed on just the second lap of the race and they finished 42nd.
Here we are year later, Knaus quietly standing in the background of Victory Lane getting to take in the scene for the first time. Watching the group of guys that along with himself, worked long hours during the offseason to make that moment happen. Both in the shop and their strategy at the track, sticking with the plan of never letting Johnson go anywhere near drafting practice. Single car runs were their MO and Johnson only went near a pack when absolutely necessary.
He acknowledged Sunday that they were just working towards getting to the race. Knowing they had the car and were sitting on speed that would be used when it was needed. Johnson flexed his muscle late on Sunday, making the preparation and mind of Knaus pay off.
“We work really hard at Hendrick Motorsports to prepare for the Superspeedway races. We put a great product out there,” said Knaus.
“I’m telling you, I know we worked at least 35 days straight on the car that we raced in the Daytona 500. I know I put in personally one day of 38 hours straight. I actually sent Jimmie a text, saying I’ve seen 6:48 three times today and haven’t been to bed yet.
“I think what we have above everybody else is the desire to go out and win races. We’ve got 500-plus employees at Hendrick Motorsports. When they all want to go out and win races, you put guys like this behind the seat, you’re going to see magic happen.”
Rating the Race – The Daytona 500
Why I watched…
And they say there is no such thing as a stupid question. The Daytona 500, a race they all want to win, one victory that keeps your name alive as long as they thunder down the track at Daytona Beach. I watched to see if Danica Patrick could do something with that pole position, if Junior could emerge from out of the darkness in this new car, if Tony or Mark could do what they have long tried to do. We watched to see if the action could live up to what we saw Friday and Saturday, races I would have rated as a pair of nines. Yes, we watched to see the incredible skill and the courage it takes to compete. We did not watch for more wrecks or to see any more fans injured, yet we have been reminded of the dangers that lurk on and, yes, just off the track. On Sunday, the pre-race invocation had more meaning and we watched, and we prayed.
The race…
Our prayers for safety were rewarded. If we also prayed to witness the unexpected, we got that, too. No one expected Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick to be removed from contention only 33 laps in, but they wound up with just five big championship points between them.
We expected that maybe Danica might lead the opening lap, but Jeff Gordon decided otherwise. We did not expect her to take the lead on lap 91 or to remain a major factor from start to finish. We might have to look at her different, as she wound up 8th when it was all over. Many have considered her hot as a woman, but she was even hotter Sunday as a driver.
We might have expected Matt Kenseth to once again run up front. We did not expect him to go from leading strong to just plain gone when drive train issues ended his day with 50 to go. Two laps later, team mate Kyle Busch unexpectedly saw his engine fried and died.
We did not expect Top Ten finishes for Michael McDowell or J.J. Yeley, but we did. We did not expect Carl Edwards to wreck his fifth car in a month, but we did. We did not expect Joe Nemechek to start and park. Okay, sometimes I even make myself laugh.
As expected, the cream rose to the top in the end. Jimmie Johnson held on to the lead to win his second Daytona 500, and earn crew chief Chad Knaus his first. Dale Earnhardt Jr charged to second with Mark Martin pushing him from behind to conclude a great day of entertainment.
Rating the Race: (8.5/10)…
If only the cars could slingshot by the leader, if only the inside line could move to challenge the outside. We did not have the drama of the previous two races of the weekend, but between the features leading up to the Great American Race that reminded us of NASCAR’s past, the progression of the six generations of race cars, the driver intros, and the action on the track we had ourselves a very fulfilling way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Here is hoping for more of the same at Phoenix.
Earnhardt Jr. comes up short again in bid for second Daytona 500 win
For the second straight year, Dale Earnhardt Jr. found himself the bridesmaid in the biggest race of the year. His frantic charge on the last lap that came up short, ending in a second place finish in the Daytona 500 behind teammate Jimmie Johnson.
“I couldn’t really do much without Mark [Martin] helping me at the end. I was hoping he was thinking what I was thinking as we came off of turn on the last lap,” said Earnhardt Jr. of his team’s performance. “I felt like we needed to make the move a little earlier than off of [turn] four and I kept backing up, backing up trying not to let guys get to racing behind us too much.”
The plan, at least from Earnhardt Jr.’s perspective was for he and Martin to have enough of a gap that if those behind them started to get lined up, they could take off. When not having to worry about the others, Earnhardt Jr. said he just mashed the gas and began his run down the backstretch, Martin following behind.
“Once we come to turn four, we kind of run out of steam, didn’t have enough to get a run on Jimmie,” he said. “But real happy with the way the car run all day. You couldn’t pass much. But when I was bale to really see what my car could do, it was plenty capable of winning the race.”
The 1-2 finish for Hendrick Motorsports, specifically the shop that houses the teams of Earnhardt Jr. and Johnson, is now home to Johnson’s second win in the Daytona 500 while Earnhardt Jr., who won the event in 2004, finished second for the third time in last four races. He was fourth heading into the final lap before charging forward with the help of Martin.
Struck by how long those in front of him waited to make a move, Earnhardt Jr. looked for his opening and took it. But knew, having the same equipment as Johnson it would be hard to get around him. The two will head to Phoenix the top two in points.
For much of the 500-mile race, the field took a conservative approach. Quickly getting single file and logging laps, but numerous times Earnhardt Jr. told his team that he wasn’t even running full throttle and was pondering how the end of the race was going to play out. With not much passing or pack racing taking place, drivers were unable to gage what they could and couldn’t do.
What Earnhardt Jr. knew however, was that his car was much better than it had been just days earlier. In his Budweiser Duel race he complained about how it handled and said the team had a lot of work to do ahead of the 500. But then, in final practice on Saturday the speed showed up and crew chief Steve Letarte fixed the bugs that plagued the No. 88 National Guard team.
Sunday they ran a safe race, avoided the wrecks and were in contention at the end. But it wasn’t enough for Earnhardt Jr. to find victory lane at Daytona again.
“It’s like a drug, I assume. It’s such a high. You just don’t know when you’ll ever get that opportunity again or if you’ll ever get that opportunity again,” said Earnhardt Jr. about trying to win a second Daytona 500. “I knew before I won in 2004, I was reserved to the idea I may be trying to win this race my entire career because I knew all too well how that was for my father.
“I felt so much relief when I did win it. I’m ready to do it again. It’s been too long. Running second over and over is great and all for our team, a good start to the season, but I would love – even having to go through all the hassle that Jimmie is about to go through this week [as Daytona 500 champion] – it’s worth it.”
NOTES FROM THE NASCAR NATION: Nationwide Series Race At Daytona
With all due respect to the injured, there were some positive aspects to that horrible wreck
We all watched in horror as a multi car crash, on the final lap of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona, unfolded. We saw Kyle Larson’s Chevrolet become airborne and hit the catch fence. We saw debris, including a tire with wheel and suspension parts attached to it, fly into the grandstands.
Later in the evening came the grim news regarding the injured fans: a total of 28 hurt by the flying debris. 14 were transported to a nearby hospital with two patients reported to be in critical condition requiring surgery. The remaining 14 were treated for their injuries at speedway medical centers. Later, the next day, we heard the good news that all patients in the hospital had been stabilized.
Believe it or not, despite the severity of the accident and the sustained injuries, there were some positive aspects to this very intense situation.
Let’s begin by pinpointing the quick response of the speedway’s medical emergency staff. Following a quick arrival to the scene, they expedited triage procedures by quickly assessing which victims needed to be escorted to the speedway’s medical facilities and which ones needed to be transported to the hospital right away.
There was also some very positive responses from the fans themselves to come to the aid of their fellow spectators including reports of fans removing their shirts and using them as a pressure bandage on those who were cut and bleeding.
Thank goodness for the NASCAR mandated safety equipment in their cars. Kyle Larson will testify to that. When his car came to a rest, the entire front of his Chevrolet was missing. It was both amazing and gratifying to see Larson calmly exit his car uninjured. Afterwards, during a live television interview, he quickly said he was fine and expressed his concerns for the spectators in the grandstand. This young man is both an extraordinary talent and a class act. He has a very bright future in NASCAR.
This accident occured following a final lap blocking move by race leader Regan Smith. Under no circumstances should anyone point the finger of blame at this driver. He was simply doing his job. Any driver with a chance to win at Daytona would have made the same move. Smith, also a class act, manned up after the race and said the wreck was his fault and then immediately expressed his concern for the welfare of the fans.
The aftermath of this accident completely overshadowed the fact that Tony Stewart won the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona. In victory lane, Stewart and his team elected to keep the environment subdued out of respect to the injured fans. It was a very classy thing to do.
On Sunday morning, prior to the Daytona 500, NASCAR President Mike Helton announced that literally every NASCAR team in the garage area approached officials and asked them to please convey their heartfelt best wishes to the patients in the hospital. To a true blue NASCAR fan lying in a hospital room those messages had to be huge. That shouldn’t surprise anyone. The members of these teams are well known for having big hearts.
As some of the injured fans were treated and released, officials from the Daytona Speedway were on hand at the hospital to insure they had transportation to their hotels and motels and made sure they had some sort of accommodations that would allow them to watch the Daytona 500.
In a very extraordinary move, speedway officials also said they would be willing to relocate any fan with seats on the frontstretch that might be uncomfortable with their seat location.
While the focal point was certainly aimed at the injured fans, the fact of the matter is: the show had to go on. Speedway maintenance teams worked until 2 am in the morning repairing the damaged fence and did an outstanding job. The command to start engines for the Daytona 500 was delivered on time per the schedule.
The most significant positive aspect to this situation is very likely the one that’s yet to come. NASCAR is well known for instant responses to any and all safety issues. It’s likely that they will engage the immense talent and intelligence available at their Research and Development Center, an organization that has designed many safety innovations in the past. The final result will be a fence that will be safer for both the drivers and the fans.
To the fans still in the hospital, be rest assured that the entire NASCAR Nation is sending you good thoughts and prayers for your speedy recovery.
Johnson answers the challenge at Daytona
In late January, Rick Hendrick challenged his teams to return to championship form. Much of that challenge was seemingly directed toward the No.48 Lowes team. This pressure to perform coupled with the unveiling of the new Gen-6 car, definitely made for a long, hard off season. Today, however, at the Daytona 500, Jimmie Johnson and his Chad Knaus led crew, took the first step in answering that challenge.
Johnson, who started ninth in the event, didn’t spend much of time at the front of the pack, but when the time came, he drove his Hendrick Chevy to the front. Johnson looked very strong in the late stages, driving with extreme determination. He seemed to have re-kindled the fire he had during his five year reign as the series champion. Today’s victory was Johnson’s 61st career victory and his second in the Daytona 500.
Knaus, who was forced to miss Johnson’s first Daytona 500 win due to a NASCAR suspension, is known throughout the garage for his work ethic. The challenge from Mr. H is sure to have hit home with him the most. Given Chad’s personality, being told by his boss that he “…didn’t feel they were as good as they could be”, was most assuredly a wake up call for the five time championship winning crew chief. Today his team displayed a flawless performance that allowed Knaus to add the Daytona 500 to his already impressive resume’.
After seeing the performance today, Mr. Hendrick is proving once again why he owns the most successful teams in the sport. Hendrick’s has the ability to spot and attain talented individuals and then motivate those individuals to perform at unheard of levels is the key to his success. The current Hendrick driver and crew chief line-up is very impressive and shows no sign of going away in the foreseeable future. We are witnessing a dynasty similar to that of the Steelers, Lakers, and the Yankees. There is absolutely no reason why we cannot see all four Hendrick cars in the chase again this season and if today is any indication, the No.48 team may once again be leading the way.
Lap by Lap: Daytona 500 won by Jimmie Johnson
When the caution came out with nine to go, Jimmie Johnson was just a nose ahead of Brad Keselowski, able to choose his line on the restart. He would choose the outside lane and would hold the field off to win the 2013 Daytona 500.
Green flag
Lap 1 Gordon uses the side draft and goes up in front of Patrick
Lap 2 Gordon leads Patrick and Ky Busch
Lap 5 Gordon leads Patrick Ky Busch Kahne and Dillon
Lap 6 Gordon and Patrick while Harvick and Busch are side-by-side for third
Lap 7 Gordon Patrick Ky Busch and Kahne single-file while Dillon and Harvick are side-by-side for fifth
Lap 11 Most of the field runs single-file. Gordon leads Patrick Busch Kahne Dillon Bowyer Johnson Harvick Biffle and Kenseth
Lap 14 Gilliland down a cylinder
Lap 15 the whole field is a single-file train
Lap 20 Waltrip and Bayne have both lost the draft.
Caution lap 27 debris. Joe Nemechek gets the lucky dog. Leaders pit. Gordon leads Dillon Kahne Ky Busch Patrick Johnson Biffle. Busch made dive for the grass as he almost got into McMurray as he was pitting.
Restart lap 31 Gordon leads as Kahne and Johnson are side-by-side
Lap 32 Johnson to the lead out of turn two ahead……Kenseth jumps to the top in front of Gordon, Johnson jumps up in front of him
Caution lap 33 Ku Busch, Montoya McMurray Mears Keselowski Stewart Harvick Kahne ……..Kyle Busch caught the left rear corner of Kahne, collecting the rest. Pit stops for some
Restart lap 37. Johnson gets a good start on the bottom with Kenseth, both quickly pulling up to the top line. Kenseth dives under Johnson through turns three and four. Kenseth to the lead.
Lap 38 Kenseth and Johnsin side-by-side for first……..Kenseth pulls up to top lae ahead of Johnson out of turn four.
Lap 39 Kenseth leads while Johnson and Bowyer are side-by-side for second
Lap 41 Kenseth leads Johnson and Patrick
Lap 43 Kenseth leads Johnson Patrick Gordon Ky Busch Logano and Dillon single-file
Lap 70 Dillon pits
Lap 71 Brad Keselowski pits
Lap 72 48 24 10 2 16 43 95 9 17 83 93 21 78 among those who pitted
Lap 73 20 18 56 11 15 31 88 47 36 34 55 99 among those who pitted. Jack falls during 18 pit stop. Newman and Mark Martin lead. They haven’t pitted yet
Lap 74 Menard pits. Almirola too fast exiting pit road in section 7.
Lap 78 Newman and Martin pitted. Hamlin to the lead ahead of Truex and Kenseth
Lap 79 Hamlin leads Truex Kenseth Johnson Gordon Biffle Logano Patrick Earnhardt Bowyer
Lap 85 Caution debris. Pit stops. Fuel only for the leaders. Patrick Bowyer Truex Hamlin Biffle Logano Gordon Johnson Earnhardt Jr. off pit road. Waltrip stays out to take the lead.
Restart lap 90 Patrick edges ahead for the lead with help from Bowyer. Both go from bottom to top.
Lap 92 Patrick leads as Bowyer and Hamlin are side-by-side for second…….Hamlin and Patrick side-by-side for the lead
Lap 93 Hamlin jumped up to the outside, Patrick sideways saves it
Lap 94 Kenseth jumps to the outside ahead of Hamlin and Patrick
Lap 102 Kenseth Hamlin Patrick Bowyer Johnson as the field is single file
74 to go Logano, Hamlin, Bowyer, Truex, Stenhouse, Newman, Bayne, Edwards among others pit, handing the lead to Patrick
71 to go Patrick, Biffle, Earnhardt Jr., Johnson, Gordon, among others pit. Logano to the lead
70 to go Logano, Ambrose and Keselowski pit.
69 to go Kenseth leads Hamlin Bowyer Busch Martin
64 to go top 10 are pulling away from the field. Caution. Wise, Edwards, Dillon, Bayne, Labonte, Regan, Gilliland, Keselowski……….Keselowski got sideways after contact from Bayne, and then the accordion effect behind
Restart 54 to go Kenseth grabs the lead off the jump
53 to go Kenseth leads Hamlin and Kyle Busch.
51 to go Kenseth gives up the lead as he has a vibration and smoke trialing. Hamlin leads Kyle Busch. “It’s a gear or something. It’s shaking in the shifter.”
50 to go Hamlin leads Kyle Busch, Truex, Biffle, Johnson, Gordon, B. Labonte, Ambrose, Bowyer, Patrick. All single-file, top 13 trying to escape the rest of the field.
49 to go Busch blew up. Hamlin leads Truex, Biffle, Johnson, Gordon, B. Labonte, Ambrose, Bowyer, Patrick.
27 to go top nine pit, Smith grabs the lead ahead of Earnhardt Jr.
26 to go Smith, Earnhardt Jr, Martin pit. Keselowski to the lead
25 to go Truex Jr. blowing up. Penske racing teammates pit. Stenhouse pits. Scott Speed leads
Caution 24 to go Burton got into the outside wall. Speed pits. Keselowski to the lead, ahead of Johnson, Ambrose, Biffle, Hamlin Patrick Bowyer Gordon Newman Martin Almirola DaleJr
Restart 19 to go as Keselowski and Johnson are side-by-side for the lead
18 to go Keselowski leads Biffle, Patrick and Gordon
17 to go Keselowski leads Biffle, Patrick, Gordon, Martin and Earnhardt Jr.
16 to go Keselowski leads Biffle and Patrick while Gordon and Johnson are side-by-side for fourth
15 to go Keselowski to the bottom to block as Johnson and Biffle were side-by-side…..Keselowski back to the top, Johnson alongside Keselowski for the lead
11 to go Keselowski leads while Biffle and Johnson are side-by-side for second
9 to go Keselowski and Johnson side-by-side for the lead. Caution debris in turn two
The top 10: Johnson, BradK, Hamlin, Biffle, Bowyer, Danica, Logano, Dale Jr., Gordon, Martin
Restart 6 to go Johnson to the lead in turn two, ahead of Biffle and Keselowski.
5 to go Johnson leads Biffle and Patrick while Johnson and Earnhardt Jr. are side-by-side for fourth
4 to go Johnson, Biffle, Patrick, Earnhardt Jr., Martin single-file
Final lap. Wreck in turns one and two. 93 got into the wall. Logano also got damage. No caution.
Johnson. Earnhardt Jr. Martin. Keselowski. Newman. Biffle. Smith. Patrick. McDowell. Yeley. Bowyer. Stenhouse.
