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fastfordfan
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – One of the best NASCAR feuds in the mid-2000s was revisited last week.
Bad boy crew chief Chad Knaus vs. NASCAR officials.
Knaus was the posterboy for pushing the envelope in 2006 and 2007. In 2006, he was ejected from Speedweeks at Daytona for a rear window violation and suspended for three more weeks.
In 2007, he was suspended for six weeks for flaring out the front bumpers of Jimmie Johnson's car at Infineon Raceway, trying to take advantage of the NASCAR templates. Johnson was docked 100 points for the violation. Knaus was allowed to remain at the track but the team had to use its backup car.
Ironically, Johnson won the Daytona 500 in 2006 with Knaus suspended and won the championship in both seasons.
Since then, Knaus has stayed out of trouble, although he found himself back in NASCAR’s doghouse when he was overheard telling Johnson to intentionally damage his car if he won at Talladega last October.
But then came opening-day inspection for the 2012 Daytona 500.
NASCAR didn’t like what it saw in the C-posts of Johnson's car. Even if it possibly met the template, NASCAR deemed it so far outside the rules that it asked the team to cut the pieces off the car and replace them.
Further penalties could come next week.
“It certainly makes you scratch your head,” NASCAR President Mike Helton said about Knaus being a frequent offender. “You do kind of scratch your head on a name that reoccurs.”
Before his suspensions in 2006-07, Knaus had been penalized several times.
In 2001, he was fined $750 for small windshield clips at Talladega.
In 2002, he was fined $25,000 and Johnson was docked 25 points for illegal mounting bolts at Daytona in July. Knaus also was fined $5,000 for inappropriate language after the Dover race.
In 2003, the roof of Johnson’s car was too low in prequalifying inspection at Charlotte. Knaus was fined $2,500.
Also in 2003, Knaus was fined $1,000 for an unapproved air directional device following the all-star race.
In 2005, the roof of Johnson’s car was too low in postrace inspection at Las Vegas. Knaus initially was fined $25,000 and suspended for two weeks but the suspension was reversed on appeal.
So Knaus has a history of violations.
Now, regardless of the penalty, his reputation will take another hit.
The team hopes it doesn’t damage their season.
“We don’t know what to expect,” Johnson said. “We’re just going to hold tight and see what develops. … I just drive.
“I’m sitting back watching and wondering like everyone else is what is going to happen and certainly feel that we have a case to stress that nothing should happen and we’ll see where it all goes from here.”
Bad boy crew chief Chad Knaus vs. NASCAR officials.
Knaus was the posterboy for pushing the envelope in 2006 and 2007. In 2006, he was ejected from Speedweeks at Daytona for a rear window violation and suspended for three more weeks.
In 2007, he was suspended for six weeks for flaring out the front bumpers of Jimmie Johnson's car at Infineon Raceway, trying to take advantage of the NASCAR templates. Johnson was docked 100 points for the violation. Knaus was allowed to remain at the track but the team had to use its backup car.
Ironically, Johnson won the Daytona 500 in 2006 with Knaus suspended and won the championship in both seasons.
Since then, Knaus has stayed out of trouble, although he found himself back in NASCAR’s doghouse when he was overheard telling Johnson to intentionally damage his car if he won at Talladega last October.
But then came opening-day inspection for the 2012 Daytona 500.
NASCAR didn’t like what it saw in the C-posts of Johnson's car. Even if it possibly met the template, NASCAR deemed it so far outside the rules that it asked the team to cut the pieces off the car and replace them.
Further penalties could come next week.
“It certainly makes you scratch your head,” NASCAR President Mike Helton said about Knaus being a frequent offender. “You do kind of scratch your head on a name that reoccurs.”
Before his suspensions in 2006-07, Knaus had been penalized several times.
In 2001, he was fined $750 for small windshield clips at Talladega.
In 2002, he was fined $25,000 and Johnson was docked 25 points for illegal mounting bolts at Daytona in July. Knaus also was fined $5,000 for inappropriate language after the Dover race.
In 2003, the roof of Johnson’s car was too low in prequalifying inspection at Charlotte. Knaus was fined $2,500.
Also in 2003, Knaus was fined $1,000 for an unapproved air directional device following the all-star race.
In 2005, the roof of Johnson’s car was too low in postrace inspection at Las Vegas. Knaus initially was fined $25,000 and suspended for two weeks but the suspension was reversed on appeal.
So Knaus has a history of violations.
Now, regardless of the penalty, his reputation will take another hit.
The team hopes it doesn’t damage their season.
“We don’t know what to expect,” Johnson said. “We’re just going to hold tight and see what develops. … I just drive.
“I’m sitting back watching and wondering like everyone else is what is going to happen and certainly feel that we have a case to stress that nothing should happen and we’ll see where it all goes from here.”
