Darian Grubb, crew chief for the No. 14 Chevrolet driven by Tony Stewart, won his third NASCAR® MOOG® “Problem Solver of the Race” Award of 2009 after helping Stewart recover from an early accident to finish ninth in the recent Chase for the Sprint Cup race, the AAA 400 at Dover (Del.) International Speedway.
Grubb’s win moves him into a three-way tie with crew chiefs Alan Gustafson (Mark Martin’s No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet) and Drew Blickensderfer (Matt Kenseth’s No. 17 DeWalt Tools Ford) for the season-ending MOOG “Problem Solver of the Year” Award.
Presented by Federal-Mogul Corporation, manufacturer of MOOG chassis parts, the MOOG Problem Solver of the Race Award is presented following each NASCAR Sprint Cup event to the crew chief whose car posts the largest increase in average lap speed from the first half to the second half of a race while finishing on the lead lap. The Stewart-Hass Racing-owned No. 14 Chevrolet posted a race-best +.109-second improvement at Dover.
Stewart’s charge to the top 10 began after he was involved in a spectacular multi-car crash on Lap 32, which left a gaping hole in the front of the No. 14 car’s body. Following a 23-minute red flag period, the No. 14 Chevrolet was back on the track in 33rd position. The car’s MOOG chassis components were undamaged in the accident and the car’s integrity had been restored by the crew’s fast repairs.
In fact, the No. 14 car appeared to have the same precise steering and handling response over the balance of the race as Stewart patiently reeled in one competitor after another. The strong finish helped Stewart pick up one position, to fifth overall, in Sprint Cup points with eight races remaining in the 2009 season.
“Tony made very hard contact with another car in the accident, and I don’t think anyone expected the No. 14 car to return to the track in such competitive form. That’s a testament to Darian Grubb and his crew as well as the strength and precision of MOOG chassis parts,” says Federal-Mogul Motorsports Director Tim Nelson. “Tony was able to pick up 24 positions thanks to a great-handling car, a highly skilled crew chief and a series of very fast pit stops.”
For more information, visit www.moogproblemsolver.com.
