On Tuesday, Hendrick Motorsports announced a pair of promotions. Jeff Andrews is being promoted to executive vice president and general manager. Chad Knaus will be the vice president of competition, ending his crew chief duties that had begun in 2002 with Jimmie Johnson. Together, Johnson and Knaus had 81 wins and seven championships.
Earlier this year, Knaus helped William Byron get his first career NASCAR Cup Series win at Daytona. Knaus joined Hendrick Motorsports in 1993. His first job was a general fabricator, followed by managing chassis and body construction for Jeff Gordon, and a rear-tire changer for Gordon that went on to win the 1995 and 1997 championships.
Knaus’s new duties include overseeing the technical development for all Hendrick cars, including the “Next Gen” car in 2022, and will report to Andrews. Knaus and Andrews have a combined over 50 years of experience with Hendrick Motorsports.
Chad Knaus released a statement on the promotion saying, “When I started at Hendrick Motorsports (in 1993) I worked under for Ray Evernham. My goal was to be a crew chief. Starting at a young age, I wanted to win every race we entered and battle for every championship. Mr. (Rick) Hendrick has given me the chance to do exactly that, and I could not be more thankful to him. After all these years, my competitive desire has not changed at all, but now I have a family that deserves my attention. This new executive role will allow me to compete in a different way with all four of our teams while spending more time with my wife and two young children. I appreciate the company supporting my decision, and I’m truly excited about the challenge ahead of me to help us grow and win. I’m also looking forward to working closely with Jeff, who I admire and have great respect for. I owe so much to Mr. Hendrick and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports, and I’m ready for the next chapter.”
Jeff Andrews has been with Hendrick Motorsports since 1992 and has held several positions, including most recently being the vice president of competition since 2017. Andrews will report to Hendrick Motorsports President Marshall Carlson.
Andrews also released a statement on his promotion, saying, “In my almost 29-year NASCAR career, I’ve been fortunate to work for just one organization. Mr. Hendrick is a racer and a fierce competitor. His drive to win is contagious, and I’m grateful to have a team of like-minded people who share that passion. Racing is all I have ever done professionally. When I left my home and my family 33 years ago to pursue this dream, I never could have imagined the opportunities that have been provided by so many people, most importantly Mr. Hendrick. It’s been a privilege to grow within this amazing organization, and I look forward to working alongside Chad in his new role. He and I share a love for this business and a commitment to providing the very best resources for Hendrick Motorsports to win into the foreseeable future.”
Hendrick Motorsports also announced that they will name William Byron’s new crew chief at a later date. This will be Byron’s third crew chief since entering the Cup Series in 2018.
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