Tony Stewart and the No. 14
Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet survived contact
with a wall, a collision in the pits and a
pass-through penalty that cost them 15
positions to post a remarkable sixth-place
finish in Sunday’s Brickyard 400 Sprint Cup
race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. After the
finish, the man who helped Stewart fight
through countless challenges all day long –
crew chief Darian Grubb – was named MOOG®
Chassis Parts
“Problem Solver of the
Race.”
Sponsored by global vehicle parts manufacturer
Federal-Mogul Corporation, the
MOOG Problem Solver Award is presented to the
crew chief whose car posts the best second-half
improvement in average lap speed whilefinishing
on the lead lap. The Stewart-Haas Racing-owned
No. 14 Chevrolet Impala delivered a race-best
0.449-second improvement at Indy.
“We just fought all day and I’m really proud of
Darian Grubb and the guys on this Mobil 1/
Office Depot Chevy,” Stewart said. “They kept
fighting and I fought for everything I could
get all day.”
It was a hard fight. Stewart, who started 24th,
had climbed to 16th in the early going before
being assessed a pass-through penalty when he
hit the pit road commitment cone while swerving
around Kevin Harvick on Lap 25. The penalty
pushed the No. 14 car back to 31st position,
where it would again pick up real estate before
slapping the Turn 4 wall. That mishap forced
Stewart back into the pits so Grubb and his
crew could perform a quick inspection of the
car’s robust MOOG-equipped steering and
suspension system.
Another challenge arose on Lap 95, when Stewart
and another car made contact in the pits,
causing fender damage and costing the No. 14
Chevrolet more than a dozen positions.
Then their luck turned. Stewart picked up
several positions over the next two green-flag
runs and Grubb’s decision to call for a fuel-
only stop under caution on Lap 122 catapulted
the No. 14 car into the top 15. Stewart cracked
the top five by Lap 132 and was the leader just
three laps later. He was forced back into the
pits for fuel on Lap 145, then regained 10
positions for his eighth top-10 finish of the
year.
PAGE 2
“Darian had his hands full today, but he and
Tony battled through every challenge and the
No. 14 car’s MOOG-equipped chassis was in
great form over the second half of the race,”
said Federal-Mogul Motorsports Director Tim
Nelson. “Problem solving is a huge part of
Sprint Cup racing, and Darian really earned
this award today.”
The MOOG Problem Solver of the Race Award is
Grubb’s first of 2011. With 16 races remaining,
three crew chiefs – Bob Osborne (No. 99 Ford),
Steve Letarte (No. 88 Chevrolet) and Gil Martin
(No. 29 Chevrolet) – are tied for first place
with three wins each in the battle for the
season-ending MOOG ProblemSolver of the Year
Award.
MOOG steering and suspension components are the
leading choice of NASCAR crew chiefs and
automotive repair professionals and have helped
drive an unprecedented 45 consecutive NASCAR
Cup champions to victory.
For the latest news and statistics regarding
the MOOG Problem Solver awards, simply click on
the “NASCAR” link on the brand’s popular moog problem solver
website. This technician-focused site also
includes extensive technical information about
MOOG steering and suspension components and a
wide range of common chassis repair challenges.
To identify the right MOOG part for virtually
any application, please use the convenient,
free electronic
catalog.
