In NASCAR, one of the most crucial professional relationships is that of a driver and their spotter. There needs to be harmony between the two entities at all times, or else it could be the undoing of even the best of drivers on the grid. Between 2006 and 2024, Juan Pablo Montoya drove in the NASCAR Cup Series, and Derek Kneeland served as his spotter during his final year with Chip Ganassi Racing.
Kneeland has since left his past employer, joining hands with Richard Childress Racing in 2020 and currently spotting for Kyle Busch. However, the spotter has not yet forgotten a radio interaction he shared with Montoya back in the day.
Kyle Busch’s Spotter Remembers an Awkwardly Hilarious Radio Exchange With a Past NASCAR Companion
Before he came to RCR, Kneeland was a spotter for Chip Ganassi Racing, having stayed there for seven years. Six of those were spent spotting for Kyle Larson. However, he spent his debut season with the team as Montoya’s spotter.
Recently, Kneeland appeared on the “Door Bumper Clear” podcast and shared a hilarious exchange between him and Montoya, which led to a famous nickname for the spotter.
Talking to Montoya in the Hauler at Darlington, Kneeland jokingly referred to himself as “daddy” and said “daddy likey.” As soon as she heard it, co-host Karsyn Elledge broke in an awkward laughter while Kneeland continued the story.
Once the race began, a caution came out when the spotter relayed a message to Montoya. The driver responded, “10-4, daddy,” and relayed a “funny laugh” on the radio, leading to Kneeland becoming the “daddy spotter.”
All of Derek’s drivers have called him ‘Daddy’ except one … and you can probably guess who. 🤨🤣 @FreddieKraft | @TBR7NY | @KarsynElledge3 | @SpotterDerek pic.twitter.com/Yx7V23nMSj
— Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) May 21, 2025
Both Larson and Tyler Reddick still refer to him as “Daddy,” even though the former is now a Hendrick Motorsports driver while the latter is currently employed by 23XI Racing.
Sadly for Kneeland, his current designated driver, Busch, has broken the streak of drivers who refer to him by his nickname. Kneeland feels the 40-year-old has either heard the nickname too much or that he just doesn’t know the backstory to be calling him “daddy.”
Kneeland joined RCR in 2020, becoming the spotter for Reddick and his No. 8 team. The duo had previously teamed up in the Xfinity Series in 2019, where Reddick ended up winning the championship.
Their harmony played a huge role in Kneeland stepping away from Chip Ganassi Racing, but there was another reason. Despite sharing a good relationship with Larson, the spotter wasn’t entirely happy with the team, which further pushed him away.
His contract with Chip Ganassi was going to end after the 2019 season, and Kneeland told them that he wanted to take his chance with another team.