Chad Johnston picked up one big prize before jetting back to North Carolina for an even bigger one. The crew chief for the NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Camry was named Federal-Mogul’s MOOG “Problem Solver of the Race” after the No. 56 car gained 11 positions to finish seventh in Sunday’s NASCAR FedEx 400 at Dover (DE) International Speedway.
After learning of his MOOG award, Johnston immediately flew home to North Carolina to be on hand for the birth of his son.
The MOOG Problem Solver award is presented following each Sprint Cup contest to the crew chief whose car posts the greatest improvement in average lap speed during the second half of the race while finishing on the lead lap. Johnston and driver Martin Truex Jr. overcame loose handling in the early part of Sunday’s race and posted a 0.009-second improvement over the final 200 laps of Dover’s “Monster Mile.”
“Chad undoubtedly had a lot on his mind today, but he was absolutely on his game in the pits, especially in fine-tuning the No. 56 car’s MOOG-equipped chassis during the first 100 laps,” said Federal-Mogul Motorsports Director Tim Nelson. “It was real loose early, but thanks to Chad the NAPA Auto Parts Toyota was a top-10 car by mid-race.”
Truex, who started 18th, complained of loose handling as he tried to pass in the early laps. Johnston responded with a series of chassis adjustments over the next three pit stops. “We did a good job in the beginning; we made a lot of changes,” Truex said. “Chad did a good job adjusting on it and hanging in there with me.”
Sunday’s MOOG Problem Solver award was Johnston’s second of the year. The Sprint Cup crew chief with the most weekly MOOG awards throughout the season will receive Federal-Mogul’s MOOG “Problem Solver of the Year” Award, which includes a $75,000 prize.
According to the company, MOOG steering and suspension components are the leading choice of crew chiefs and automotive repair professionals and have helped drive an unprecedented 46 consecutive NASCAR Cup champions to victory.
For additional information regarding MOOG chassis parts, please 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.
