Brad Keselowski and the #2 Miller Lite Dodge led 79 laps before getting bogged down in late restarts to finish seventh in Saturday night’s inaugural NASCAR Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway. Following the race, the #2 team’s crew chief, Paul Wolfe, received his second MOOG chassis parts “Problem Solver of the Race” Award in recognition of Keselowski’s 0.482-second-per-lap improvement over the second half of the event.
Presented by global automotive components manufacturer Federal-Mogul Corporation, the MOOG Problem Solver Award is presented following each Sprint Cup contest to the crew chief whose car posts the best second-half improvement in average lap speed while finishing on the lead lap.
Keselowski’s Dodge Charger – utilizing the same MOOG-equipped chassis that won last month’s STP 400 at Kansas Speedway – was easily one of the fastest cars on the track all night long and had a legitimate chance at another win until Keselowski got caught in the inside lane on two consecutive late-race restarts.
“Brad and the #2 Dodge were definitely good enough to win tonight, but as Brad said after the race, two-wide restarts all come down to track position,” said Federal-Mogul Motorsports Director Tim Nelson. “Their MOOG-equipped chassis was every bit as good as it was last month in Kansas, but they just didn’t have the breaks they needed in the final laps.”
Keselowsi, who started sixth, fell victim to uneven pavement in the lower groove of the 1.5-mile tri-oval track in restarts on laps 259 and 265, dropping the car out of the top-five and eliminating any chance of a late run at the lead. The seventh-place finish – Keselowski’s fourth top-10 performance in eight races – boosted him to 21st in Sprint Cup points at the halfway mark of the 36-race season.
The automotive service industry’s “Problem Solver,” MOOG steering and suspension components are the leading choice of crew chiefs and automotive repair professionals. MOOG parts have helped drive an unprecedented 45 consecutive NASCAR Cup champions to victory.
For additional information regarding MOOG chassis parts, visit the brand’s technician-focused www.moogproblemsolver.com website or contact your MOOG supplier. To identify the right MOOG part for virtually any application, use the convenient, free www.FMe-cat.com electronic catalog.
