Cliff Daniels didn’t wait around for someone to pull strings for him. While working at Stewart-Haas Racing, he learned of an opportunity to join NASCAR’s winningest organization. All he had to do was pick up the phone and contact one of the most successful — and intimidating — crew chiefs in the garage for a shot at Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 team. That one call would change the course of his career.
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The opening was for the position of race engineer of Johnson’s team at Hendrick Motorsports, and Chad Knaus was the legendary driver’s crew chief. Cliff Daniels did know someone who could put in a good word with Knaus. But he still had to make that call himself.
Knaus didn’t answer Daniels’ call initially, forcing the young engineer to leave a voicemail for the man who had helped Johnson win six Cup Series championships at the time. It was a risk, but one that ultimately paid off. Speaking to journalist Jeff Gluck, Daniels recalled that Knaus called him back, and the two “hit it off” right away.
“I think part of what Chad appreciates in young guys who are motivated and aggressive was the fact that I did cold-call him. There was nobody who called him ahead of me saying, ‘Hey, this guy’s going to call you. Can you talk to him?’” Daniels said in his interview with journalist Jeff Gluck.
It was 2014, Daniels’ second year at Stewart-Haas Racing, where he served as the race engineer for Tony Stewart’s No. 14 Chevrolet. It was a difficult period for Stewart, whose 2013 Cup Series season ended prematurely after a sprint car accident left him with a broken leg. His 2014 campaign was cut short as well, following a crash at Canandaigua Motorsports Park that claimed the life of Kevin Ward Jr. With Daniels’ contract also nearing its end, an opportunity to join Hendrick Motorsports, one of NASCAR’s most successful organizations, made sense.
The two organizations already had a technical alliance, but Daniels still needed to handle the move properly.
He approached Greg Zipadelli, Stewart-Haas Racing’s competition director, before pursuing the opportunity. Daniels had a good personal relationship with Zipadelli and wanted to be upfront rather than leave without having the conversation.
“I went to him and said, ‘Hey, you know, I hear there could be this opening on the 48. Are you okay if I pursue it? If you want me to stay here, I get it. Just wanted to have the conversation because it could be a great opportunity.’”
Zipadelli gave him his blessing and offered to send Knaus’ number. He advised Daniels to simply call him up, and for him, that’s where the nerves kicked in.
Early in his career, Knaus reportedly became infamous for his temper, with Michael Waltrip recalling that the general perception was that he “couldn’t work with anybody.” Former Hendrick Motorsports employees have also described his interviews as intense, with Knaus closely scrutinizing candidates’ discipline and attention to detail.
His No. 48 team had set the benchmark for preparation, execution, and consistency, and Daniels was a young engineer hoping to become part of that operation. He knew he was calling a man with exceptionally high standards and plenty of candidates to consider.
The initial conversation went well, leading to a couple of interviews before Daniels landed the position. Knaus assessed his technical knowledge, attitude, and ability to contribute to a championship-caliber team. The cold call had opened the door and got him what he wanted, but Daniels still had to prove he belonged, and that he did.
Hendrick Motorsports officially hired Daniels in December 2014. He spent four seasons working as Johnson’s race engineer under Knaus, learning how the No. 48 team operated from inside the garage. The group won 13 races during that stretch, including Johnson’s record-tying seventh Cup Series championship in 2016.
Daniels saw how Knaus prepared for races, managed his team, and handled difficult situations. He learned from both his successes and mistakes, especially the importance of discipline and careful planning.
After the 2018 season, Knaus left Johnson’s No. 48 team to become William Byron’s crew chief in the No. 24 Chevrolet. This ended his 17-year partnership with Johnson, during which they won seven Cup Series championships. Daniels moved to Hendrick Motorsports’ competition systems group before returning to the No. 48 team as a race engineer in June 2019. A month later, Hendrick promoted him to crew chief, replacing Kevin Meendering. In 2021, Daniels became the crew chief for Kyle Larson, and the pairing quickly proved to be special.
Larson won 10 races and captured his first Cup Series championship in their first season together. The duo added another title in 2025, establishing themselves as the strongest driver-crew chief partnerships in the series.
Larson initially had concerns about whether Daniels might be too much like Knaus, particularly in how he communicated over the radio. But he came to appreciate Daniels’ detailed updates and demanding approach because they helped him stay focused during races.
“I like knowing as much information as I can get. But Cliff does a really good job being very clear in what he’s telling me. Not feeding too much useless information, just the right amount,” Larson said in Martinsville last October.
The qualities that helped him get hired by Knaus became part of his own leadership style. His willingness to speak up and take initiative did not disappear when he moved into a position of authority.
In February 2026, Hendrick Motorsports extended Larson’s and Daniels’ contracts, keeping them together beyond the current season.
Daniels could not have known where that first voicemail would lead. He was simply hoping for an interview, with no guarantee Knaus would call back. Today, with two championships alongside Larson, Daniels has built his own legacy as a crew chief. It all began with a phone number from Zipadelli and a call he was nervous to make. Nobody called ahead of him. He made the call himself, and the rest is NASCAR history.