Chad Knaus highlights career and friendship with Jimmie Johnson ahead of NASCAR Hall of Fame ceremony

This week, the crew chief-driver duo of Chad Knaus and Jimmie Johnson will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. As part of the build-up to the ceremony, Knaus reflected on how he found so much success in the sport.

Of course, the big part of that story is Jimmie Johnson. Even after retirement and Johnson moving on to his own Cup Series team, these two have remained close. They were side-by-side for the Garage 56 entry at Le Mans.

In their time together, the duo produced 81 victories in the Cup Series and seven championships. One of the greatest crew chief-driver pairings in all of motorsports.

When recalling how he found so much success in NASCAR, Chad Knaus went through a list of things. He came into the sport in 1993 with “lofty goals.” Being a crew chief, winning races, winning a championship – that was all on his mind when he first got to Hendrick Motorsports.

“I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to achieve a lot of those goals, but never thought I would be in a position to win seven championships or to get the amount of victories that we were able to get,” Knaus said, via HendrickMotorsports.com.

Jimmie Johnson is just as proud to have worked with Knaus and accomplished so much.

“I’m very proud of what we accomplished,” Johnson said. “The fact that we get to enjoy this moment and relive all those memories going into the Hall together makes this all the more special.”

This week, they both take the final step in their NASCAR journey, the Hall of Fame.

Chad Knaus on being named to the Hall of Fame

Knaus also highlighted a key moment. The Hall of Fame announcement. It is not easy to get into the NASCAR HOF. Only three people get inducted every year. With Johnson and Knaus both eligible for the first time, it was almost a no-brainer for the sport.

Sitting on the stage, waiting to hear who would be inducted into the 2024 class, Chad Knaus wasn’t sure what to expect.

“To see the look on his face and to be sitting next to him [Johnson]. Then, for me to get it, see his eyes look at me and you are both like, ‘Man this is real.’ It’s an honor,” Knaus said. “Jimmie is an amazing individual and a stand-up guy. He’s taught me an awful lot about life, an awful lot about living and to be able to go through this phase with him is a true honor.”

This Friday on Peacock at 8 PM EST. So, if you just watched the NFL game this weekend on the app for the first time, get ready to use it again. Chad Knaus and Jimmie Johnson, Hall of Famers. Also part of the 2024 class, Donnie Allison. It should be a fun ceremony for fans.