Clint Bowyer and the MOOG chassis parts-equipped No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet won the Sylvania 300 Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The race was the first in the season-ending series of 10 Chase for the Sprint Cup events.
Following the race, Jeff Gordon crew chief Steve Letarte was awarded the NASCAR MOOG 'Problem Solver of the Race' Award in recognition of Gordon's sixth-place finish.
Sponsored by Federal-Mogul Corporation, manufacturer of MOOG steering and suspension components, the MOOG Problem Solver of the Race Award is presented to the crew chief whose car posts the largest increase in average lap speed during the second half of each Sprint Cup event while finishing on the lead lap. Gordon and the No. 24 Chevrolet picked up a race-best 0.046-second per lap on New Hampshire's one-mile oval.
Bowyer was strong throughout the day, leading a race- high 177 of 300 laps. Gordon, by contrast, was forced to methodically steer his way through much of the field, cracking the top 10 by lap 116, the top five by lap 211 and running as high as second during the final 100 laps.
"At this early stage in the Chase, both Bowyer and Gordon had the right setups and made smart calls in the pits," says Federal-Mogul Motorsports Director Tim Nelson. "Their MOOG- equipped steering and suspension systems gave them a noticeable advantage in many areas on the track. Steve's MOOG Problem Solver Award recognizes the huge improvement in the #24 car throughout the day."
With the win, Bowyer moved up from 12th place to second in Chase points while Gordon improved from eighth to fifth with nine races to go. The series moves on to Dover (Del.) International Speedway for the AAA 400.
For more information, visit www.moogproblemsolver.com.
