Chad Knaus Making History His Way

The euphoria of winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive Cup Series championship still hung in the air as Chad Knaus made his way to his place at the table where driver Jimmie Johnson and Marshall Carlson, general manager of Hendrick Motorsports, already had begun a lengthy interview session with the media.

Johnson had just finished fifth in the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, easily clinching the fourth title in a row for his No. 48 Chevrolet team. As usual, Knaus, his crew chief, had called all the shots during the race from the pit box.

 When Johnson got anxious early in the race and became frustrated with another driver, Clint Bowyer, Knaus calmed him. When Johnson got greedy and impatient late and contemplated getting more aggressive and going for the race win, when finishing fifth more than sufficed for securing the history-making championship, Knaus talked sense into him.

It was vintage Knaus.

Always in control.

Ready at a moment’s notice with all the right answers.

Anticipating how to survive the worst but expecting the best because of his trust in the team’s meticulous preparation.

But as he fumbled clumsily with the microphone and tried to answer a mundane question — simply, “your thoughts on the 2009 championship” — Knaus suddenly seemed uncomfortable, just a bit unsure of himself, a little out of his element. For once, he seemed, well, human — like a regular guy.

It was kind of nice to see.

“It’s a bit of a dream. … People ask what it feels like, and I’m going to be honest with you. I don’t know,” he said. “I hope that 10 years from now when I’m sitting on my patio with my son or daughter or my wife or whatever is going on there, I can sit back and reflect and look at photographs.”

At this point, a laughing Johnson interrupted Knaus.

“I have three questions: Retired? Son? Daughter? You have a lot to do in 10 years, buddy,” Johnson said.

Knaus replied: “It’s all coming, man. It’s all coming. This is my time.”