After two consecutive disappointing finishes caused by flat tires, Joey Logano and crew chief Todd Gordon were looking for good news in Sunday’s Samuel Deeds 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. They found it in their No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Fusion’s ninth top-10 finish of the year as well as the third MOOG “Problem Solver of the Race” Award for Gordon, who is now tied for the lead in the battle for year-end $100,000 MOOG Problem Solver honors.
Sponsored by global vehicle components manufacturer Federal-Mogul Corporation, the MOOG Problem Solver of the Race Award is presented to the crew chief whose car posts the greatest improvement in average lap time over the second half of each Sprint Cup contest while finishing on the lead lap. The MOOG Steering and Suspension-equipped 22 car improved by a race-best 0.378 seconds over the final 80 laps to finish eighth at the Brickyard.
Gordon’s MOOG Problem Solver win moves him into a tie for the lead with Matt Borland (No. 39 Chevrolet) in the season-long MOOG “Problem Solver of the Year” battle. Borland and driver Ryan Newman’s MOOG-equipped Chevrolet SS captured the pole and the victory at Indianapolis. Kevin Manion, crew chief for Jamie McMurray’s No. 1 Chevrolet, has two weekly MOOG Problem Solver wins, and 12 crew chiefs are well within range of the lead with one apiece.
“The $100,000 MOOG award always comes down to the final one or two races and it’s looking like there’s still no clear favorite,” said Federal-Mogul Motorsports Director Tim Nelson. “We’ve had 15 different weekly winners in 20 events; that shows you how competitive this sport is, not only out on the track but also on pit road.”
Logano started the race in 11th position and ran in the top 15 for much of the first half. The 22 car led the field for 10 laps near mid-race before heading into the pits for four new tires. Following track bar and other adjustments to the MOOG-equipped chassis, the Penske Racing-owned car advanced aggressively through the field, consistently running in the top 12 for the balance of the afternoon. The eighth-place finish stabilized Logano’s position (18th) in Sprint Cup points following two straight disappointing races. Now the challenge is to pick up six positions and/or multiple wins in the next six events to qualify for the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup.
“Todd and Joey did what professionals do – they focused on the things they could control and delivered a solid finish in one of the year’s premier races,” Nelson said. “They know that every point counts over the next six weeks and I’m sure Todd will have the Penske team ready with a fast, well-tuned racecar.”
According to the company, as the automotive service industry’s “Problem Solver,” MOOG is the preferred brand of professional technicians and NASCAR crew chiefs. Federal-Mogul’s MOOG Steering and Suspension product engineers work in partnership with Sprint Cup teams to develop and test innovative designs that help provide race-winning performance and durability. Many of these same technologies are featured in MOOG ball joints, tie rod ends and other components available for today’s passenger vehicles.
For more information regarding MOOG products, visit the brand’s technician-focused www.moogproblemsolver.com website or contact your MOOG supplier. “Like” MOOG on Facebook at www.facebook.com/moogproblemsolver. To identify the right MOOG part for virtually any application, please use the convenient, free www.FMe-cat.com electronic catalog.
