From Smithfield, Va., to the biggest stage in American motorsports, Cliff Daniels just reached the pinnacle: he’s a NASCAR Cup Series champion. But the crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet driven by Kyle Larson hasn’t let that title-winning season and performance even sink in… yet.
Daniels’ love for racing began as he watched his father turn laps at Racing Virginia's short tracks. Daniels (11:44) was a wheelman, himself, from bandoleros all the way to late model stocks. But when driving was no longer an option, he found another path. He took his passion and skills and turned them into a career in racing as an engineer, steadily climbing the ladder all the way to the top of a pit box at Hendrick Motorsports. Hear his story: about his journey from driving to engineering, about the gamut of emotions a title-winning season takes on someone, his relationship with Kyle Larson, and hear exactly how it feels to be crowned a NASCAR Cup Series champion. We dive deep into the nuts and bolts with the man calling the shots of NASCAR’s most dominant team.

In a heartfelt Commonwealth Closer, hosts Dave Seay and Brandon Brown tell us what they’re thankful for this year.