While Jimmie Johnson may have put his name alongside the likes of Cale Yarborough after winning his third straight championship, crew chief Chad Knaus is in a league of his own. Unlike any crew chief that has come before him, Knaus has been able to sustain a calm, cool and collected attitude while maintaining one of the toughest work ethics is the garage. His determination to be the best, his despise for losing and his ability to bring his team together has given Knaus the honor of being the only crew chief to win three consecutive titles.

The Rockville, Illinois native began his role as a crew chief at the age of 14, when he would help his father, John, around the local short-tracks of the Midwest. Knaus and his father won a number of races together, captured the Rockford Speedway championship, took the NASCAR Great Northern Series championship and finished second in the Winston Racing Series.

Knaus caught his big break in 1993 when Hendrick Motorsports called on Chad to join the No. 24 team with a rookie hot-shoe named Jeff Gordon behind the wheel. With one of the greatest in the business - Ray Evernham - leading the team, the already keen Knaus was able to learn from the best.

After a short stint away from the company, Knaus rejoined the Hendrick stable in 2002 to call the shots for another young hot-shoe, Jimmie Johnson. The young team broke into the series in a big way. Three wins, six top-5s, 21 top-10s and four poles in that first season showed this team was committed to winning. Although Johnson lost out on the Rookie of the Year honors to Ryan Newman, Knaus was able to take home the Crew Chief of the Year award.

Since then, the combination of Knaus and Johnson has been pretty much unstoppable. Over the last three years, the No. 48 team has earned a record tying three consecutive championships, 22 victories, 48 top-5s and 70 top-10s. With a driver like Johnson behind the wheel and Knaus calling the shots, it is not hard to believe them when they say they're not through yet.

"Yeah, we want four (championships)," Knaus said following the season finale in Homestead, "Why not? That's why we're here. We think with the team that we've got, the resources we've got with Hendrick Motorsports and Team Chevrolet behind us, we can definitely go and bid for four championships in a row. Why wouldn't we? Give me a reason why not to. I think that's the mentality we've got to have."

Judging by Knaus' attitude following his record making championship, it is clear to see the drive and hunger in his eyes. The leader of the No. 48 team was ready and willing to go to work the next day in preparation for the upcoming season. Knaus' work ethic definitely caught team owner Rick Hendrick's eye early on and is now showing its results.

"I know how bad both these guys want it," Hendrick said of Johnson and Knaus. "I know what they go through when I watch them in comparison to other drivers and crew chiefs. I've never seen anyone in my 25 years that are willing to sacrifice any more as much as they have just because they want it so bad."

A crew chief known in the past to push the envelope, Knaus has received his fair share of criticism. Penalized and suspended by NASCAR numerous times for rules infractions, Knaus' willingness to test the sanctioning body has helped put his team above and beyond others, but also tarnished his reputation with some fans. This year, however, Knaus led his team to the title without any penalties, fines or suspensions.

"I don't know, hell. You get suspended. It happens," Knaus admitted. "I don't like it. It's part of the sport, unfortunately. But, yes, I have gotten into trouble from time to time, but it doesn't stop me."

While Johnson has moved his name alongside Cale Yarborough as the only two drivers to win three consecutive championships, Knaus has solidified his own spot in NASCAR history. There are a few wrenchmen that have come into the sport over the years that have changed the way others are forced to do their jobs. Dale Inman, Larry McReynolds, Robin Pemberton, Ray Evernham and others have left their impact on the sport and Knaus is following in their footsteps. With three titles to his name already, Knaus shows no sign of stopping and, in the process, is raising the bar for his competitors.