Flawless crew work in two late-race pit stops propelled Jeff Gordon and the MOOG chassis parts-equipped #24 DuPont Chevrolet to victory in Sunday’s NASCAR 5-Hour Energy 500 Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway. Following the race, Gordon’s crew chief, Alan Gustafson, was recognized for his role in the team’s second win of 2011 with Federal-Mogul’s prestigious MOOG Chassis Parts “Problem Solver of the Race” Award.
The MOOG Problem Solver Award honors the crew chief whose car posts the best second-half improvement in average lap speed while finishing on the lead lap. Although the #24 Chevrolet was strong all day – starting third and consistently running in the top five – Gustafson and the Hendrick Motorsports crew helped deliver a race-high 0.078-second-per-lap improvement.
“Jeff had a great car and Alan helped make it better all day long,” said Federal-Mogul Motorsports Director Tim Nelson. “Then, when it all came down to pit work over the last 44 laps, the #24 team delivered two near-perfect stops that enabled Jeff to pull away from the field.”
The #24 Chevrolet’s MOOG-equipped chassis provided exceptional handling throughout the race, helping Gordon stay within striking distance over the initial 400 miles. Great crew work in a stop on Lap 156 enabled him to beat eventual runner-up Kurt Busch out of the pits and then power by race leader Juan Montoya on the restart. Gordon’s team delivered another flawless stop – with final chassis adjustments and fuel – some 20 laps later, and the #24 car was never seriously challenged over the final 19 trips around the 2.5-mile tri-oval.
In addition to the weekly MOOG Problem Solver awards, Federal-Mogul presents the MOOG “Problem Solver of the Year” Award to the Sprint Cup crew chief with the best overall performance after 36 races. After 14 starts, Steve Letarte (#88 Chevrolet) and Gil Martin (#29 Chevrolet) are tied for the lead with three MOOG Problem Solver of the Race awards, followed by Peter Sospenzo (#34 Ford) with two.
As the automotive service industry’s trusted “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.
