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The Dale Jr. Download

322 - Chad Knaus: Pushing the Limits

The Dale Jr. Download

Dirty Mo Media & SiriusXM

Sports

4.89K Ratings

🗓️ 3 November 2020

⏱️ 103 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

It's a Chad Knaus, few ever get to know. Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits down with the 7-time NASCAR Championship Crew Chief in a wide open interview on the Download. Knaus' journey to becoming Jimmie Johnson's crew chief started in the grassroots midwest wrenching on his father's Late Model racecars. That short track grind taught many valuable lessons that he took with him on an unlikely journey to the heart of Stock Car Auto Racing, Charlotte, N.C. Knaus speaks of the failures in his first attempts to get into NASCAR, and how it landed him back home, and far away from his dream of becoming a big-time crew chief. A bold phone call and an overnight stay in the Hendrick Motorsports parking lot finally opened the door for the journeyman crew member. Under the guidance of Ray Evernham, Knaus did it all. Then, he moved on. But why? The journey from team to team, including working for Dale Earnhardt Inc, wasn't always smooth for the Illinois native. But, it did include some memorable moments with Dale Sr., and a promise with Rick Hendrick that helped shape his future Hall of Fame career. Chad, Dale Jr. and co-host Mike Davis talk about management by strengths and how Chad Knaus' direct personality is off the chart in the Hendrick system. He also shares some of the incredible attributes of his seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Championship driver, Jimmie Johnson. Dale Jr. and Chad discuss what it was like working together, as two completely different personalities, on the Hendrick Motorsports team. Knaus' aggressive style landed him in trouble and Dale asks him about the "creativity" he brought to an organization constantly pushing the envelope. Dale reminisces about the time he dumped Knaus' driver Stacy Compton, and how a bloody-nose may have saved him from a confrontation with the crew chief. Chad Knaus will start a new role for Team Hendrick in 2021, stepping off the pit box and into a managerial role. He reveals what has him most excited about the future with a flood of younger talent rising through the organization. Aside from the interview, Dale Jr. brings a lot to the table... including a giant tub of shredded beef jerky. The DJD gang tries the unusual snack. Social Media guru Leah Vaughn didn't try the beef, but she did bring a ton of questions to Dale in the Ask Jr segment presented by Xfinity. Jr. breaks down Kevin Harvick missing the Championship 4 and shares his take on a controversial decision by Erik Jones' #20 team that helped Denny Hamlin advance to the Phoenix finale. Dale also shares why he became an iRacing executive and how nobody will replace Clint "Eastwood" Bowyer.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This is a good idea actually giving time for olive videos

0:05.0

That makes a day better at a reset

0:08.3

When she laughs it is really sweet like she's got the good gig she's got that really yeah

0:16.3

Amy goes that monster she goes yeah, I'm pretty scared

0:30.0

Oh

0:36.0

I love it

0:43.0

Oh my gosh

0:51.0

This is a production of dirty mode media

0:53.4

Hey

0:57.6

Hey everybody it's Dale Jr. Welcome back to another episode of the Dale Jr. Download

1:02.6

I got my co-host Mike Davis here with me Lee is in the house back using the house

1:07.8

We got Hall of Fame crew chief Jack and now's coming on the show. We got an ass Jr. And a whole lot more

1:16.1

Shredded be oh

1:18.5

Jerky

1:20.5

Shredded be jerky's back no shredded be jerky I got some for everybody. Let's get you to start

1:38.0

All right, I brought you guys you're very young

1:42.8

Cat food let's see this

1:44.8

There you like it's like flavored sawdust this yes flavor sawdust

1:49.9

Yeah, it's a good explanation. Is that good?

1:51.9

Matthew, will you please take her? Oh?

1:56.4

Your husband so Dale Jr. has been can try he's got basically oh no we he's obsessed with this stuff

2:03.3

So so for those listening at home Dale Jr. has a big tub of

...

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