Chad Knaus to crew chief for Byron in '19

Holy sheep **** Batman! Totally out of left field. Biggest news of the silly season outside of FRR.

End of the greatest era of driver/CC success in NASCAR history. This has to be solely about getting Byron up to speed.
 
What the ****!? Why would Hendrick break up a 7 time Championship team!?
 
SpeedPagan said:
What the ****!? Why would Hendrick break up a 7 time Championship team!?
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"It's no secret that Chad and Jimmie have experienced their ups and downs over the years," Hendrick said. "They're fierce competitors, great friends and have immense respect for one another. They also fight like brothers. All three of us agree it's finally time for new challenges and that a change will benefit them and the organization." ( Link )
 
LewTheShoe said:
"It's no secret that Chad and Jimmie have experienced their ups and downs over the years," Hendrick said. "They're fierce competitors, great friends and have immense respect for one another. They also fight like brothers. All three of us agree it's finally time for new challenges and that a change will benefit them and the organization." ( Link )
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Let's ask Jeff Gordon how his career went after Ray Evernham left The Rainbow Warriors.
 
LewTheShoe said:
"It's no secret that Chad and Jimmie have experienced their ups and downs over the years," Hendrick said. "They're fierce competitors, great friends and have immense respect for one another. They also fight like brothers. All three of us agree it's finally time for new challenges and that a change will benefit them and the organization." ( Link )
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I like it when my guys fight like brothers, you know where each other stands and **** gets done.
 
SpeedPagan said:
What the ****!? Why would Hendrick break up a 7 time Championship team!?
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All I can say to that is, Ole man Hendrick is pretty smart and successful.

https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2...crew-chief-2019-william-byron-jimmie-johnson/

H's Quote from announcement: “You can’t quantify how much Chad’s leadership and championship experience will benefit William, who is a special talent,” Hendrick said. “The two of them are a great match, and I’m excited to see what they can do together. Chad has the Rainbow Warriors pedigree and truly appreciates the history of the No. 24. I’ve asked him to build another winner and given him the green light to put his stamp on the team and do it his way.”
 
SpeedPagan said:
What the ****!? Why would Hendrick break up a 7 time Championship team!?
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How many elite athletes get in a “slump” and when a new head coach comes to town they have a career season or 2 before they retire.

Sometimes complacency stifles success.

I’m sure both Chad and Jimmie knew of the seperation long before anyone else and are confident in the move.
 
Chances of Chad and Jimmie getting anywhere near back to what they were are lower than them succeeding separately imo
 
SpeedPagan said:
What the ****!? Why would Hendrick break up a 7 time Championship team!?
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Because there is no more juice out of that grapefruit?

I'm surprised they stayed together as long as they did. It's interesting that this happened to Hendrick Motorsports. He's now experience it both ways with Gordon and Everham breaking up prematurely and with Jimmie and Chad staying a little too long together. Their relationship grew stale, no doubt.
 
ChexOrWrex said:
As far as rookie seasons go and as young as he is, Byron has done quite well. He’s not some lost puppy.
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as far as rookie seasons go, Elliott's rookie season, he finished 10th, Bowman's first year with Hendrick, he's in 12th. Byron is 22nd with only 3 top 10's. I didn't say he is a lost puppy you did. I said he is lost.
 
StandOnIt said:
as far as rookie seasons go, Elliott's rookie season, he finished 10th, Bowman's first year with Hendrick, he's in 12th. Byron is 22nd with only 3 top 10's. I didn't say he is a lost puppy you did. I said he is lost.
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Chase had Cup experience at HMS and inherited a championship competitive team. Bowman was far from being a rookie when coming to HMS full time. Comparing them to Byron is absurd.
 
ChexOrWrex said:
Chase had Cup experience at HMS and inherited a championship competitive team. Bowman was far from being a rookie when coming to HMS full time. Comparing them to Byron is absurd.
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I watch him qualify and practice, he's lost and doesn't get his car right to start with, he has the lowest starting position at 18th, you can't go anywhere with that. It isn't absurd, it's stats. Chad will get him dialed in.
 
I won’t be shocked if he calls it quits after homestead.
 
SpeedPagan said:
Let's ask Jeff Gordon how his career went after Ray Evernham left The Rainbow Warriors.
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I would say it went pretty well. Won a title with Robbie Loomis and would have won titles with Letarte and Gustafson if not for the playoff nonsense.

Something needed to change with that 48 team. Mr. H is a very smart man. I think this move will be good for everyone.
 
Johnson needs to call his own shots and have a crew chief that gives him what he wants instead of lording over him like Chad does IMO. Another interesting change to the cast of characters for next year.
 
I wonder how much this has to do with the success of Chase. If I am Rick I am thinking why is the 9 car our best car? The 9 car has out ran the 48 with the same resources. you have the 48 team which should be the yard stick of the entire organization and they are not. When I look at the practice sheets on friday its common for the 48 to not even be the second best HMS car off the truck, why is that? the only thing that can be said is the best cars aren't being brought to the track, its pure and simple. Jimmy isn't going to be 24th in practice and some how find the speed to run in the top 5. They have also been out ran at times by the 42 car.

I am a chad fan and always will be. but IMO chad's focus has not been the same since he got married or just before it. I don't think he is as focused as he used to be because of having a family etc. This stuff had to wear on him and he needed to unplug from it. Now I think both guys have something to prove. I think Chad gets to prove isn't wasn't jimmie and I think jimmie gets to prove it wasn't chad. That is something no one can avoid trying to see what happens and trying it. I am not sure how I feel taking a guy with no cup level experience or history of success and putting them in this spot. I would rather have seen Ives get the job. but that is just me from the outside, what the heck do I know.
 
For mostly sentimental reasons I had hoped it wouldn't come to this, but honestly, I think it's time. I kind of think over the last couple of years they had kind of stopped listening to each other, and maybe both had gotten just a little complacent. I have been appalled recently at how poorly prepared the 48 team seems to be many weeks, and I think a change of scenery for both will do them good. If you pay attention to what they have both said in the 19 years since Gordon and Evernham parted ways, they were quickly approaching the same place in their relationship, and Ray was going to move on to something different very soon whether Dodge threw a can't refuse deal at him or not. Much like his mentor Evernham, Chad is a field general, and probably will do much better with a younger driver willing to just shut up and follow instructions. I think Jimmie will do much better as a father figure helping the new guy get up to speed. Sometimes you just need a big change to realign your focus.
 
hidesert cowboy said:
I wonder how much this has to do with the success of Chase. If I am Rick I am thinking why is the 9 car our best car? The 9 car has out ran the 48 with the same resources. you have the 48 team which should be the yard stick of the entire organization and they are not. When I look at the practice sheets on friday its common for the 48 to not even be the second best HMS car off the truck, why is that? the only thing that can be said is the best cars aren't being brought to the track, its pure and simple. Jimmy isn't going to be 24th in practice and some how find the speed to run in the top 5. They have also been out ran at times by the 42 car.

I am a chad fan and always will be. but IMO chad's focus has not been the same since he got married or just before it. I don't think he is as focused as he used to be because of having a family etc. This stuff had to wear on him and he needed to unplug from it. Now I think both guys have something to prove. I think Chad gets to prove isn't wasn't jimmie and I think jimmie gets to prove it wasn't chad. That is something no one can avoid trying to see what happens and trying it. I am not sure how I feel taking a guy with no cup level experience or history of success and putting them in this spot. I would rather have seen Ives get the job. but that is just me from the outside, what the heck do I know.
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Good points, pride is a good motivator.
 
SpeedPagan said:
This is probably what going to happen. I don't see Johnson staying in NASCAR after he retires. He'll probably fade into his own private life.
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I think you are right, but I think if Jimmie has a good year IDK about retirement. To some it is a job, and some it is a lifestyle, guys like Larson,Stewart, Foyt will always be involved.
 
Jeff Hammond just said when the Pern to HMS deal fell apart that Rick pulled this move..
 
I think Jimmie continuing to drive after 2020 depends on how successful he is these next two years. He reminds me of Tom Brady, he'll keep going until the wheels fall off.
 
Wow. So milk and cookies couldn't fix it this time. Sometimes things just get stale. I sure wish they could have gotten #8 before this happened.
 
Wow, did not see this coming, I really thought that Chad would be JJ's CC for his entire career, but at the same time, I think its a good move , maybe this shake up is what the #48 team and HMS as a whole needs .
 
ChexOrWrex said:
As far as rookie seasons go and as young as he is, Byron has done quite well. He’s not some lost puppy.
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Such impatience around here. Byron had exactly one season of Trucks, and one of Xfinity before being put in the 24 car in Cup. At age 19.

He’s raw. He needed more time in Xfinity. He took his lumps this year. Now he gets a vet like Chad on the box to square him away. The talent is there. Byron will be fine.
 
Now that I've picked my chin up off the floor and had time to think ---
Chad and Jimmie have been together so long their relationship has to have gotten stale.
They think too much alike, so neither is thinking outside the box.
Something needed to happen to shake the cobwebs out of their heads to get the competitive juices flowing again.
 
with that said, why wait to make the change? why not get adjusted now, none of the 2 teams are in the playoffs
 
Well now we should see Byron ascend to championship form next year, right?
 
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