StandOnIt
Farm Truck
Hope Knaus gets his head back in the game.
Maybe Knaus getting married, Johnson reasons, will help the six-time Cup winners reconnect at the racetrack and get their mojo back.
A year after winning their sixth Sprint Cup together, Johnson and Knaus struggled last season, relatively speaking. Their No. 48 car won four races but were eliminated in Round 2 of the Chase. Johnson was a career-worst ninth in driver points.
Johnson says his relationship with Knaus and their ability to communicate were part of the secret to their success when they won five consecutive championships in 2006-10
"That's where our speed was, and that's what we've worked hard on all winter to identify and get back in that space, because when we won five in a row, all of the Hendrick provided engines and chassis, they're all the same," Johnson said. "My teammates, we're all the same. The only difference was Chad and I, and the way we went about things and how we made decisions and the connection we had led to our success.
Meanwhile, Johnson's long-term concern is making sure Knaus remains his crew chief and doesn't get burned out. Knaus has become involved in TV work the past few years, has other outside interests and now is engaged. Johnson must make sure Knaus maintains the fire that helped lead them to six championships.
"We haven't had that discussion," Johnson said of Knaus moving into a new role. "I know that his time is probably going to expire before mine, just the dog years that crew chiefs live in, and we've always talked about that, and it's been kind of open.
"I'm going to do everything in my power to get him to hang on as long as I can. I keep joking with him trying to prime the pump early, like, 'Hey, buddy, we started this together, let's end it together.' I don't know that I'll be lucky enough to get that."
http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/...ie-johnson-glad-2015-season-chase-daytona-500
Maybe Knaus getting married, Johnson reasons, will help the six-time Cup winners reconnect at the racetrack and get their mojo back.
A year after winning their sixth Sprint Cup together, Johnson and Knaus struggled last season, relatively speaking. Their No. 48 car won four races but were eliminated in Round 2 of the Chase. Johnson was a career-worst ninth in driver points.
Johnson says his relationship with Knaus and their ability to communicate were part of the secret to their success when they won five consecutive championships in 2006-10
"That's where our speed was, and that's what we've worked hard on all winter to identify and get back in that space, because when we won five in a row, all of the Hendrick provided engines and chassis, they're all the same," Johnson said. "My teammates, we're all the same. The only difference was Chad and I, and the way we went about things and how we made decisions and the connection we had led to our success.
Meanwhile, Johnson's long-term concern is making sure Knaus remains his crew chief and doesn't get burned out. Knaus has become involved in TV work the past few years, has other outside interests and now is engaged. Johnson must make sure Knaus maintains the fire that helped lead them to six championships.
"We haven't had that discussion," Johnson said of Knaus moving into a new role. "I know that his time is probably going to expire before mine, just the dog years that crew chiefs live in, and we've always talked about that, and it's been kind of open.
"I'm going to do everything in my power to get him to hang on as long as I can. I keep joking with him trying to prime the pump early, like, 'Hey, buddy, we started this together, let's end it together.' I don't know that I'll be lucky enough to get that."
http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/...ie-johnson-glad-2015-season-chase-daytona-500
