Gil Martin, crew
chief for
Kevin Harvick and the No.
29 Jimmy John's Chevrolet, collected his first NASCAR®
MOOG® "Problem Solver of the Race" award
Sunday afternoon after the No. 29 car passed five-time
defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson on the final
lap to win the Auto Club 400 in Fontana, Calif.
The MOOG Problem Solver award recognizes the
crew chief whose car delivers the largest improvement in
average lap speed during the second half of each Sprint
Cup event while finishing on the lead lap. Harvick and the
MOOG chassis parts-equipped Chevrolet led only one lap –
the last one – but posted a race-high .202-second
improvement over the final 100 laps of Auto Club
Speedway’s 2-mile D-shaped oval. Harvick started the race
in 24th position.
“With five laps to go, it looked like it would be Kyle Busch or
Jimmie,
but Kevin stayed focused and just catapulted into the
lead,” said Federal-Mogul Motorsports Director Tim Nelson.
“It really came down to who had more grip on the last lap,
and it’s obvious Gil and Kevin knew they had enough to get
by the No. 48 car in Turn 3.”
Four of the top five finishers took a chance in electing
to stay out on the track during the final caution, on Lap
185. Busch (third), Johnson (second), Harvick and Ryan
Newman (fifth) chose to finish on worn tires while Matt Kenseth
(fourth) and several others chose to pit for fresh rubber.
Martin’s decision played out best, as Harvick had enough
rubber to go high in turns 3 and 4 to power past
Johnson.
“It was a tough call, but that’s how you win Sprint Cup
races and the MOOG Problem Solver award,” Nelson said.
“Gil and Kevin had the No. 29 car running at its best on
the last lap of the day and that was their ticket to the
winner’s circle.”
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