Jeff Gordon Crew Chief Alan Gustafson breaks deadlock in battle for MOOG 'Problem Solver of the Year' Award
Gustafson won the weekly MOOG award for the second straight week thanks to Gordon’s race-best 0.143-second improvement in average lap speed over the second half of the race. The No. 24 car started 23rd on what has been one of Gordon’s least favorite tracks, but cracked the top 10 within the first 70 laps and was rarely out of the top five the rest of the way. Gordon’s 6th-place finish was his best at TMS in more than two years.
“Jeff and Alan teamed up for a great run and the No. 24 was consistently running as fast as the leader over the second half,” said Federal-Mogul Motorsports Director Tim Nelson. “Alan was able to keep their MOOG-equipped chassis dialed in to the cooling track temperatures and they had a legitimate chance to win it all until their tires wore out during the final green-flag run.”
Gustafson last week moved into a tie with seven other Sprint Cup crew chiefs by winning his third MOOG Problem Solver of the Race Award, at Martinsville. Now he can clinch season-ending MOOG Problem Solver honors with a win in either of the final two races of the season. If he doesn’t win again, he needs to hope that one of the seven crew chiefs tied for second – Drew Blickensderfer (No. 6 Ford), Darian Grubb (No. 14 Chevrolet), Steve Letarte (No. 88 Chevrolet), Gil Martin (No. 29 Chevrolet), Bob Osborne (No. 99 Ford), Shane Wilson (No. 33 Chevrolet), or Paul Wolfe (No. 2 Dodge) – doesn’t capture a fourth weekly MOOG award. In the case of a tie, the award goes to the crew chief whose driver has the most Sprint Cup points.
“It seems like every year we have someone make a late run to win this award, and it’s looking like Alan might be the man in 2011. But any one of those seven other crew chiefs is capable of winning one or both of the final two races,” Nelson said. “Nothing would surprise me at this point – it has been a great battle from beginning to end.”
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 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 or visit the company’s website at www.federalmogul.com.
