delivered his best
Sprint Cup performance in four years and held off a
furious challenge by
® Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol
(Tenn.) Motor Speedway. Following the race, Truex’s crew
chief, Chad Johnston, picked up his first
MOOG/a>® Chassis Parts "Problem Solver of the
Race" Award for the No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota's
0.049-second improvement over the final 250 laps.
Sponsored by global automotive original equipment and
replacement parts manufacturer Federal-Mogul Corporation, the MOOG Problem Solver Award is presented to
the crew chief whose car posts the largest increase in
average lap speed over the second half of each Sprint
Cup contest while finishing on the lead lap.
“No car raced harder over the last 250 laps – and
certainly the final 80-lap green flag run – than the No.
56. Martin pushed that car to the limit and Chad put him
in position for a top-five finish with a great call in
the pits,” said Federal-Mogul Motorsports Director Tim
Nelson.
Truex, who started 27th, enjoyed exceptional handling
all night thanks to the No. 56 Toyota’s MOOG-equipped steering and suspension
system. Johnston was so sure of the car’s handling that
he called for only two tires and no chassis adjustment
in the final pit stop, on Lap 415, enabling Truex to
beat the leaders onto the track and set up the showdown
with Gordon’sfaster-running No. 24 Chevrolet.
“Chad – I owe it all to him,” Truex said. “We had a
great car all night.”
Johnston, who took the reins of the Michael Waltrip
Racing-owned Toyota at mid-season, becomes the 13th crew
chief to have received a weekly MOOG Problem Solver
Award in 2011. With 12 races to go, the battle for the
prestigious season-ending MOOG “Problem Solver of the
Year” Award remains deadlocked, with crew chiefs Bob
Osborne (No. 99 Ford), Steve Letarte (No. 88 Chevrolet),
Gil Martin (No. 29 Chevrolet) and Paul Wolfe (No. 2
Dodge) each having earned three weekly MOOG
awards.
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
technician-focused website that also includes
extensive technical information about MOOG steering and
suspension components and a wide range of common chassis
repair challenges. To identify the rightMOOG part for
virtually any application, please use the convenient,
free
electronic catalog.
