NASCAR: Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus to 分裂（する） after 17 years
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - There will not be an eighth NASCAR 肩書を与える for Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus.
Hendrick Motorsports will 分裂（する） the driver and 乗組員 長，指導者 - the longest pairing in NASCAR - at the end of a disappointing season. Johnson has not won a race in 17 months and was knocked out of the プレーオフs in the first 一連の会議、交渉／完成する. Johnson and Knaus won their 記録，記録的な／記録する-tying seventh 選手権 in 2016 but have 低迷d in the two years since.
"It's no secret that Chad and Jimmie have experienced their ups and 負かす／撃墜するs over the years," owner Rick Hendrick said. "They're 猛烈な／残忍な competitors, 広大な／多数の／重要な friends and have 巨大な 尊敬（する）・点 for one another. They also fight like brothers. All three of us agree it's finally time for new challenges and that a change will 利益 them and the organization."
Johnson and Knaus were partnered in 2002 when Knaus built the No. 48 team as part of a Hendrick 拡大. They won a 記録，記録的な／記録する-tying seven 肩書を与えるs and made the プレーオフs in all 15 years of its 存在.
There has いつかs been 緊張 between the two, and Hendrick more than once considered splitting them for the good of the organization. The time finally （機の）カム Wednesday in a 職員／兵員 shakeup 発表するd by the 再構築するing organization.
"Chad and Jimmie will go 負かす／撃墜する as one of the greatest combinations in sports history," Hendrick said. "They 反抗するd the 半端物s by 成し遂げるing at a 選手権 level for longer than anyone could've かもしれない imagined. What they've 遂行するd together has been 絶対 remarkable and will be celebrated for 世代s. This has been an incredible, storybook run."
FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2018, とじ込み／提出する photo, 乗組員 長，指導者 Chad Knaus, left, and Jimmie Johnson watch the leaderboard during qualifying for the NASCAR Daytona 500 自動車 race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday,, in Daytona Beach, Fla. There will be no eighth NASCAR 肩書を与える for Johnson and Knaus. Hendrick Motorsports will 分裂（する） the driver and 乗組員 長，指導者 at the end of this season, the team 発表するd Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, とじ込み／提出する)
The changes Hendrick will 器具／実施する next season brings 支援する former 従業員 Kevin Meendering to the organization to partner with Johnson. Meendering spent 16 years with Hendrick beginning with a high-school internship in the chassis department. His last three seasons have been at JR Motorsports, a Hendrick (v)提携させる(n)支部，加入者, as 乗組員 長，指導者 for Elliott Sadler.
Hendrick called Meendering one of the "most sought-after talents in the garage" and said he'll be ready to take over the No. 48 team on his first day.
"He's a 尊敬（する）・点d, 今後-thinking 乗組員 長，指導者," Hendrick said. "He's the 権利 fit for Jimmie at the 権利 time. With an 設立するd No. 48 team behind them, I believe they will 成し遂げる at a winning level next season and chase that eighth 選手権."
Knaus, 一方／合間, will 乗組員 長，指導者 William Byron and the No. 24 team next season.
Knaus started with the No. 24 team and had a variety of 乗組員 役割s under 助言者 Ray Evernham from 1993 until 1998. Knaus was an integral part of Jeff Gordon's 1995 and 1997 Cup 肩書を与えるs.
Darian Grubb will be moved from Byron's 乗組員 長，指導者 to a technical director 役割 that supports Hendrick モーターs ports' 工学 and 乗り物 開発 資源s.
Hendrick Motorsports is in a 再構築するing 方式 に引き続いて the 退職s of Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the 解雇する／砲火／射撃ing of Kasey Kahne. Johnson is the 退役軍人, surrounded by 新人 Byron, and 約束ing youngsters Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman.
Elliott is the only Hendrick driver to 勝利，勝つ a race this season and locked himself into the third 一連の会議、交渉／完成する of the プレーオフs with a victory last 週末 at Dover.
"We believe these 決定／判定勝ち（する）s will 供給する us with a tremendous 適切な時期 for success in the 未来," Hendrick said. "As an organization, we are here to 勝利，勝つ races and compete for 選手権s. Everything we do comes 負かす／撃墜する to putting our people in the best possible positions to その上の that 客観的な. Winning is what it's all about."
FILE - In this Nov. 17, 2013, とじ込み／提出する photo, Chandra Johnson takes photos of her husband, Jimmie Johnson, 中心, and his 乗組員 長，指導者, Chad Knaus, after Jimmie won his sixth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 選手権 in Homestead, Fla. There will be no eighth NASCAR 肩書を与える for Johnson and Knaus. Hendrick Motorsports will 分裂（する） the driver and 乗組員 長，指導者 at the end of this season, the team 発表するd Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, とじ込み／提出する)
FILE - In this Friday, April 20, 2018, とじ込み／提出する photo, Jimmie Johnson, 権利, listens to 乗組員 長，指導者 Chad Knaus, as they wait for their car to get through 査察 事前の to qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series 自動車 race at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Va. There will be no eighth NASCAR 肩書を与える for Johnson and Knaus. Hendrick Motorsports will 分裂（する） the driver and 乗組員 長，指導者 at the end of this season, the team 発表するd Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, FIle)
FILE - In this Nov . 18, 2007, とじ込み／提出する photo, Jimmie Johnson, left, 注ぐs シャンペン酒 on 乗組員 長，指導者 Chad Knaus as they celebrate after winning the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series 選手権 in Homestead, Fla. There will be no eighth NASCAR 肩書を与える for Johnson and Knaus. Hendrick Motorsports will 分裂（する） the driver and 乗組員 長，指導者 at the end of this season, the team 発表するd Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, とじ込み／提出する)
FILE - In this Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, とじ込み／提出する photo, 乗組員 長，指導者 Chad Knaus, left, 会談 with driver Jimmie Johnson, 権利, before qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series 自動車 race at Charlotte モーター Speedway in Concord, N.C. There will be no eighth NASCAR 肩書を与える for Johnson and Knaus. Hendrick Motorsports will 分裂（する） the driver and 乗組員 長，指導者 at the end of this season, the team 発表するd Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, とじ込み／提出する)
