Brad Keselowski mocks Chad Knaus, labels his role at HMS as ‘babysitter’

Chad Knaus was recently voted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Brad Keselowski mocks Chad Knaus, labels his role at HMS as ‘babysitter’

Brad Keselowski (Left) and Chad Knaus (Right) [Credits: Imago]

Chad Knaus, the seasoned vice president of competition at Hendrick Motorsports (HMS), recently found himself at the center of a playful exchange following the Darlington inaugural playoffs race. The culprit behind this jibe was Brad Keselowski, driver and co-owner of RFK Racing. Keselowski’s quip labeled Knaus as HMS’ “babysitter,” which seemingly made the HMS executive uncomfortable. 

The Darlington race also witnessed a clash between Alex Bowman and Daniel Suarez, with drivers pointing fingers at each other for their collision. Suarez accused Bowman of lacking caution, while Bowman retorted that Suarez was notorious for aggressive blocking. But the highlight of this NASCAR drama occurred during a segment of “NASCAR Race Hub,” where Keselowski, Chad Knaus, and Austin Dillon shared their thoughts. The topic inevitably shifted to the on-track skirmishes.

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Chad Knaus, known for his no-nonsense approach, expressed disappointment over the incidents, emphasizing the need to improve relationships among Chevrolet teammates. He believed that unresolved issues were at the root of these clashes. Knaus lamented (H&T: Sportscasting), “That’s unfortunate. I think on both cases right there…I don’t like the fact that we’re (Chevrolet) teammates and that we’re running into each other.”

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Turning to Keselowski for his perspective, the 2012 Cup Series champion seized the opportunity to inject humor into the conversation. With a sly grin, he quipped, “I see job security for Chad. Whenever there’s a lot of problems, you need people like Chad to come in and solve them.” Keselowski added, “When people ask Chad, ‘What do you do?’ You’re like, ‘Well, I’m kind of a babysitter. Example 1.'”

Discover: Kyle Larson claims he had no confidence in himself coming to playoffs, says he is seeking consistency at Kansas

Brad Keselowski’s HMS rift began at Darlington over Kyle Larson’s disagreement 

Brad Keselowski and Kyle Larson
Brad Keselowski and Kyle Larson (Credits: Frontstretch)

While the comment was made in jest, its impact was palpable. Knaus, a veteran in the sport, appeared somewhat uncomfortable with the label. Knaus has been with the team since 2018 and assumed the role of Vice President of Competition in 2020. Keselowski’s beef with Hendrick Motorsports was triggered by the verbal disagreement he had with Kyle Larson at Darlington. 

During the race, Keselowski couldn’t resist the urge to poke fun at his fellow driver, Kyle Larson. When a power outage plunged the track into darkness, Larson expressed his reservations about continuing the race in such conditions. Keselowski responded, speaking about Larson’s success outside NASCAR saying, “The 5? Damn, like 90 percent of the tracks he runs at have fewer lights than that.”

On the surface, Keselowski’s remark seemed like light-hearted banter; its underlying implications ran deep. The term “babysitter” could be construed in multiple ways. It might suggest that HMS drivers require a guiding hand akin to children, or perhaps that Knaus plays a vital role in managing internal team matters. The ambiguity of the comment sparked curiosity and conversation.

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