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NASCAR on NBC podcast, Ep. 64: Chad Knaus

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Chad Knaus tells Nate Ryan how Ray Evernham influenced his seven championships with Jimmie Johnson.

After making history with Jimmie Johnson last November, crew chief Chad Knaus decided to get away from it all.

A trip to Uruguay accomplished that by removing even the temptation of connecting to the outside world.

“I never saw a television,” Knaus said about his vacation during the latest episode of the NASCAR on NBC podcast. “It’s not that we didn’t turn a television on, it’s that I never saw a television. Anywhere in the United States, any restaurant’s bar area has a TV or three to four TVs blaring sports or CNN.

“Down there, that’s not the case. It’s living life. It’s art. It’s the beach. It’s the fields. Watching the gauchos go out and rustle the cows and horses to bring them to the stables. It’s a really neat spot.”

The trip to the resort town of José Ignacio was suggested and planned by Knaus’ wife, Brooke, who is an aspiring painter (brookeknaus.com).

The couple spent much of the 10-day getaway exploring the artsy community that features sculptures, paintings and “the most random things you’ve ever seen in your life.

“Brooke found a beautiful place,” said Knaus, who hadn’t been to South America before. “The food was phenomenal. The culture is amazing.

“It’s one of the safest places I’ve been in my life. I really, really enjoyed the experience.”

During the podcast, Knaus also addressed:

--His relationship with Johnson and why the two have managed to stay together through 15 seasons and win a record-tying seven championships;

--The importance of car chief Ron Malec, who has been with Johnson and Knaus since the No. 48 team’s inception, and why Knaus doesn’t like to hire away from other teams;

--What the legacy of seven titles means to him;

--The three people he called the night after winning the championship and race in Miami.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking on the AudioBoom embed below or download and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by clicking here. The free subscription will provide automatic downloads of new episodes to your smartphone. It also is available on Stitcher by clicking here and also can be found on Google Play, Spotify and a host of other smartphone apps.

https://audioboom.com/posts/5608889-ep-64-chad-knaus-jimmie-johnsons-s-crew-chief?t=0