Chip Bolin didn’t lose his cool during the NASCAR Auto Club 500. In fact, his cool under pressure way to overcome cooling system problems on the No. 17 Ford Fusion landed him the NASCAR MOOG Problem Solver of the Race Award from Federal-Mogul Corp.
Bolin, crew chief for Roush Fenway Racing and Matt Kenseth’s No. 17, dealt with the cooling system issues as well as a wet track and other weather problems.
On lap 10 of the race, Bolin’s efforts helped Kenseth recover from an unscheduled pit stop to solve an overheating issue. The No. 17 Ford quickly moved back up from 43rd to 22nd position before struggling with loose handling caused by unpredictable track conditions. Following a scheduled pit stop, Kenseth advanced to 14th position when, after multiple weather delays, NASCAR decided to postpone the race until the next morning. The Roush Fenway Ford briefly held the lead on day two before settling back to a fifth-place finish.
“The unpredictable weather and seeping water on the track surface made things tough for every crew, but no one did a better job working through these issues than Chip Bolin,” says Federal-Mogul Motorsports Director Tim Nelson. “His ability to quickly provide the necessary adjustments for a top-five finish exemplifies MOOG’s problem-solving performance.”
Federal-Mogul’s MOOG Problem Solver of the Race and Master Crew Chief of the Year Award celebrates the behind-the-scenes professionals who fine-tune their cars’ set-up for the strongest possible finish. The Problem Solver of the Race Award is presented to the crew chief whose team finishes in the top 10 on the lead lap and posts the largest increase in average lap speed from the first half to the second half of a race.
MOOG steering and suspension products feature innovative, problem-solving designs that make them the ideal choice for racing teams, automotive technicians and vehicle owners. The brand’s “Problem Solver” parts feature a variety of innovative design features and premium materials that improve on the original part and help speed the repair. This unique problem-solving approach is closely aligned with the MOOG brand’s engineering relationship with leading NASCAR Sprint Cup teams.
For additional information regarding the NASCAR MOOG Problem Solver of the Race Award and MOOG steering and suspension components, visit www.federal-mogul.com or www.moogproblemsolver.com.
