Frank Kerr, crew chief of the No. 47 Clorox Toyota Camry driven by Marcos Ambrose, was named the NASCAR® MOOG® “Problem Solver of the Week” after Ambrose dominated the field during the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., only to see victory slip away when the car stalled briefly during a late-race caution.
Sponsored by Federal-Mogul Corporation, global vehicle components manufacturer and supplier of MOOG steering and suspension components, the MOOG Problem Solver of the Race Award is presented following each 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 the race while finishing on the lead lap. Ambrose’s JTG Daugherty Racing-owned Toyota improved by a race-best .080 second in finishing sixth on Infineon’s challenging 1.99-mile road course.
“Most other drivers and crew chiefs agreed that Marcos and Frank had by far the best car on the track,” says Federal-Mogul Motorsports Director Tim Nelson. “The No. 47 Toyota’s MOOG-equipped chassis offered excellent steering response and grip. It’s a shame they didn’t come away with a win.”
Ambrose, who started the day in sixth position, battled eventual race winner Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Chevrolet) in the early going, with Johnson building a lead of up to 4 seconds over the No. 47 Toyota. Ambrose captured the lead on lap 62 and appeared to be cruising to victory when a fluid leak on Brad Keselowski’s No. 12 Dodge brought out the yellow flag with just seven laps to go.
Like many drivers, Ambrose briefly shut off his engine to conserve fuel but apparently was unable to get it restarted in time to avoid falling out of position under the yellow. When Ambrose tried to retake the lead before the restart, NASCAR officials determined he had not maintained sufficient speed under caution and ordered him back to eighth position. He was able to recover only two of the lost spots over the final four laps.
“The unusual circumstances at the end of the race don’t negate the fact that Frank Kerr and his crew came up with the best setup of any car on the track today,” Nelson says. “Marcos and Frank did an excellent job of deciding what the car needed throughout the race. The No. 47 Toyota was great in the corners, great on straightaways, and it seemed to keep getting better after every pit stop.”
For additional information, visit www.moogproblemsolver.com.
