Story By Matthew Thomerson/TheFourthTurn.com

FLORENCE, SC – On most weeks during the year, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief, Chad Knaus, is serving duties in the NASCAR industry, but during the offseason, he oversees a different role.

Knaus, the Vice President of Competition at Hendrick Motorsports, has been greatly involved in his seven-year-old son Kipling’s racing career. 

The Bandolero portion of the South Carolina 400 weekend featured the younger Knaus competing at Florence Motor Speedway, driving a white and blue No. 66 Pro-Fab Racing entry. 

“We’ve got a couple of great teammates that he’s been able to learn and grow off,” Knaus said. “That’s why we’re here. First time here.” 

He finished sixth in his Florence Motor Speedway debut. Knaus believes that having his son competing in Bandolero races is a step in the right direction for building up his ability as a racer.

“It’s a big track for a Bandolero,” Knaus said. “He’s learned a lot. I think all these kids learned a lot. He’s fast.”

More importantly are the different types of cars Kipling Knaus could be racing in, as race car diversification can help young racers develop the proper on-track etiquette needed to be successful. 

“Well, he’s been racing carts for about two years.” Knaus said. “Yeah, so he’s been doing carts; we’re talking about maybe doing some dirt stuff. He’s going to do some Bandos and a bunch of them.”

As far as the rest of this year goes, the notion is for the next generation of Knaus racers to have more races planned in the coming months. 

“We’re going to do the winter heats and the bandolero series, and we’ve got racing carts at Trackhouse Motorplex, next weekend,” Kanus said. “So yeah, we’ve got a lot of racing again this year.”

Florence Motor Speedway has featured several big-time drivers making some of their first racing starts at the 4/10^th-mile oval, so could fans see the Knaus family back racing at Florence Motor Speedway in the near future? 

“I think so,” Kanus said. “I think it’s a fun track. It’s a pretty cool environment, so yeah, I can see it happen.”