Shane Wilson, crew chief of the MOOG chassis parts-equipped #33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet driven by Clint Bowyer, won his second MOOG “Problem Solver of the Race” Award after the No. 33 car posted its 11th top-10 finish of the season in Sunday’s AAA 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Dover (DE) International Speedway.
Presented by global vehicle components manufacturer Federal-Mogul Corporation, the MOOG Problem Solver award honors the Sprint Cup crew chief whose car delivers the best increase in average lap speed over the second half of the race. After starting 27th, Bowyer and the No. 33 car methodically picked up track position in the early going and then hit their stride with a 0.77-second improvement over the final 200 laps for an eighth-place finish on Dover’s “Miracle Mile.”
“Clint is a talented driver, and Shane is one of the best at matching a car’s chassis setup to changing track conditions,” said Federal-Mogul Motorsports Director Tim Nelson. “The No. 33 kept getting better, lap after lap, which was especially impressive given the unpredictable weather. Their MOOG steering and suspension system gave them excellent grip in the corners, which is critical in short-track racing.”
Bowyer, who stands 13th in Sprint Cup points, was poised for victory in last week’s race at New Hampshire but ran out of fuel with just three laps to go. This time he had plenty of fuel and a great-handling car, but the No. 33 ran out of time in its quest to crack the top five.
Wilson is also trying to crack the top five – in the battle for the season-ending MOOG “Problem Solver of the Year” Award. With two weekly MOOG award wins, he trails crew chiefs Drew Blickensderfer (#6 Ford), Steve Letarte (#88 Chevrolet), Gil Martin (#29 Chevrolet), Bob Osborne (#99 Ford), and Paul Wolfe (#2 Dodge), each with three 2011 MOOG awards.
MOOG steering and suspension components are the leading choice of NASCAR crew chiefs and automotive repair professionals and have helped drive an unprecedented 45 consecutive NASCAR Cup champions to victory.
For the latest news and statistics regarding the MOOG Problem Solver awards, simply click on the “NASCAR” link on the brand’s popular www.moogproblemsolver.com website. This technician-focused site also includes extensive technical information about MOOG steering and suspension components and a wide range of common chassis repair challenges. To identify the right MOOG part for virtually any application, use the convenient, free www.FMe-cat.com electronic catalog.
