Chad Knaus named WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Race at “Monster Mile”
Chad Knaus, crew chief for the No. 48 Kobalt Tools Chevrolet driven by Jimmie Johnson, has been named the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Race following Sunday’s Autism Speaks 400 at Dover International Speedway.
Johnson climbed from eighth to first by lap 49 of the 400-lap race, eventually leading a total of nine times for 298 laps. Knaus and crew worked effortlessly to help guide their driver to yet another victory at the famed “Monster Mile”.
Atop the leaderboard, Knaus summoned his driver to pit road with 36 laps to go for a four-tire change. Unfortunately a faulty exchange by the crew slowed him down, dropping him back in ninth place. Luckily, Knaus was able to calmly coach Johnson back to the front of the pack, passing Tony Stewart for the lead with just two laps to go.
“I’m so proud of these guys and Chad,” said Johnson, who is currently third in the Series standings. They built me an awesome car and overall we had a solid day on pit road,” said Johnson.
“These guys came in with a game plan and Chad executed under pressure,” said FOX/Speed Channel analyst and WYPALL* Wipers spokesman, Jeff Hammond.
WYPALL* Wipers Crew Chief Results
Bob Osborne, Carl Edwards and the No. 99 team overcame a few issues and came back to finish 7th, maintaining 11th-place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings, 271 points behind the leader, Tony Stewart. Todd Berrier, Casey Mears and the No. 07 Jack Daniels team finished ninth, his second top-10 finish in the past four races. He was also ninth at Richmond, Va., last month. Mears and his No. 07 Richard Childress Racing team struggled at the start of the season, posting three finishes of 24th or worse in the first five races. WYPALL Wipers’ support the men behind the machines and you can find out more about Todd and Bob at http://www.wypall.com/Bios.asp.
Bob Osborne, crew chief for the No. 99 Roush Fenway Ford (Carl Edwards), Todd Berrier, crew chief for the No. 07 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (Casey Mears), and FOX/Speed Channel analyst Hammond, along with representatives from the WYPALL Wipers brand, serve as the panel for the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief Challenge and vote for the weekly crew chief winners. In addition to the $1,000 check, the winning crew chief will receive signage to announce the win on their pit box the following week. The crew chief with the most weekly wins will be honored as the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief of the Year and will be presented a $20,000 check at the season finale in Homestead, Fla.
Former winners of the WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief Challenge include Tony Eury, Sr. (Dale Earnhardt, Jr.), Robbie Reiser (Matt Kenseth), Doug Richert (Greg Biffle), Mike Ford (Denny Hamlin) and Chad Knaus (Jimmie Johnson).
About WYPALL Wipers
WYPALL is a brand of Kimberly-Clark Professional. Since 2004, WYPALL Wipers has been affiliated with some of racing’s top teams. Offering heavy-duty to versatile light-duty towels, WYPALL Wipers provide race teams with a number of products that demonstrate strength and durability. Defeating the toughest of challenges, from absorbing tough grease and oil to wiping down windshields without leaving residue behind, WYPALL Wipers continue to offer performance and versatility.
The WYPALL Wipers Crew Chief Challenge will continue throughout the 2009 season and spotlight the men behind the machines. For more information, log onto www.wypall.com.
