CONCORD, N.C. – In the latest edition of Axalta’s video series “Around the Track” with host Jeff Gordon, No. 24 team crew chief Chad Knaus sat down with the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion for a wide-ranging discussion.
The chat began with Knaus’ earliest memories of wanting to get into racing, and the crew chief noted that his father was racing cars even before he was born.
“I was really born into the environment,” he said.
From there, he shared how his dream shifted from wanting to drive the cars to wanting to work on them and eventually become a crew chief.
“I can’t really explain why, but it was a huge joy of mine to make a change on a car and have the driver go out there and say, ‘Yeah, it’s better,’” he said. “That was a lot of fun for me.”
Gordon and Knaus talked the ins and outs of dealing with so much data every race weekend, which paint scheme is the crew chief’s all-time favorite, what it’s like to be in the broadcast booth and if there’s one race that stands out as the one that got away.
They also discussed Knaus’ relationship in his first year with a young driver in William Byron.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” he said, noting that they continue to aim at a trip to Victory Lane. “We’re close. We’re getting faster and faster weekly. But it’s not just the driver, it’s the team. The whole No. 24 team has gone up a level, I feel.”
Check out part one of the interview at the top of the story, and part two can be seen below.