Jimmie Johnson splits with Hendrick NASCAR crew chief Chad Knaus
Seven-time NASCAR Cup champion Jimmie Johnson will part with his crew chief Chad Knaus at the end of the 2018 season

Johnson and Knaus are the longest-running driver/crew chief pairing in the series, having been together since Johnson joined Hendrick Motorsports full-time in 2002.
Knaus will move to Hendrick's #24 car to become crew chief to William Byron next year, taking the place of Darian Grubb as he is promoted to a technical director role.
Replacing Knaus on Johnson's #48 will be Kevin Meendering, who currently serves as Elliott Sadler's crew chief in the JR Motorsports Xfinity team.
"It's no secret that Chad and Jimmie have experienced their ups and downs over the years," said team owner Rick Hendrick.
"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 organisation.
"Chad and Jimmie will go down as one of the greatest combinations in sports history.
"They defied the odds by performing at a championship level for longer than anyone could've possibly imagined.

"What they've accomplished together has been absolutely remarkable and will be celebrated for generations. This has been an incredible, storybook run."
Johnson and Knaus have won 83 Cup races together as well as their seven titles.
But Johnson is currently amid a career-worst 53-race win-less streak and though he made it into the 2018 playoffs he was eliminated at the first hurdle.
Hendrick described Knaus's replacement Meendering as "the right fit for Jimmie at the right time".
He added: "With an established #48 team behind them, I believe they will perform at a winning level next season and chase that eighth championship."
Reigning Xfinity champion Byron is only 22nd in the standings in his first Cup season, with a best finish of sixth.
Hendrick said he had asked Knaus to "build another winner and given him the green light to put his stamp on the team and do it his way" with Byron.
The team boss added that the reshuffle was about providing Hendrick, which has won only two races - both with Chase Elliot - this year, with the best opportunity to get back to the front.
"As an organisation, we are here to win races and compete for championships," he said.
"Everything we do comes down to putting our people in the best possible positions to further that objective. Winning is what it's all about."

Previous article
Leavine Family NASCAR team announces Kasey Kahne's 2019 replacement
Next article
Johnson: Need for new spark prompted NASCAR crew chief Knaus split

Jimmie Johnson splits with Hendrick NASCAR crew chief Chad Knaus
Trending
Why a British prospect is trying to make it in NASCAR
There has never been a full-time British driver in the NASCAR Cup. But Alex Sedgwick, who is rising through the stock car ranks, wants that to change and could be a trailblazer for European talents to reach the top echelons of the NASCAR ladder
How Earnhardt’s death changed American motorsport
It's 20 years since legendary driver Dale Earnhardt Sr died at the Daytona 500, but the legacy of his crash continues today through the pioneering safety work done by NASCAR
The NASCAR subplots to keep an eye on in 2021
This weekend's Daytona 500 kickstarts a NASCAR Cup season that promises plenty of intrigue courtesy of new owners and a refreshed calendar. Here's what you need to know ahead of the new season
How a second-chance NASCAR ace is rebuilding his career
From a disgraced NASCAR exile, Kyle Larson has been given a shot at redemption by the powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports squad. Replacing seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson is no easy billing, but Larson has every intention of repaying the team's faith
Autosport's top 5 NASCAR machines
The American stock car scene is more famous for its close racing and occasional punch-ups, but there have been some fantastic machines too. As part of Autosport's 70th anniversary celebrations in 2020, we picked out five of its best
Why NASCAR's latest second-generation champion is just getting started
Chase Elliott's late charge to the 2020 NASCAR Cup title defied predictions that it would be a Kevin Harvick versus Denny Hamlin showdown. While the two veterans are showing no signs of slowing down, Elliott's triumph was a window into NASCAR's future
Why Johnson’s playoff failure won’t tarnish his legacy
The last season of a retiring NASCAR great has shown promise, and may have resulted in another playoff push without small issues outside his control. 2020 won't be the year Jimmie Johnson would have wanted, but it won't be what he is remembered for
Why a Le Mans winner is heading into the “unknown world” of NASCAR
Comparing Porsche's 919 HYBRID LMP1 to NASCAR is motorsport's equivalent of apples and oranges, but this weekend one of Weissach's top works aces will pit his skills against the regulars and revive the tradition of the 'road-course ringer'