Peter Sospenzo, crew chief for David Gilliland and the #34 Taco Bell Ford Fusion, was named Federal-Mogul’s MOOG “Problem Solver of the Race” after Gilliland posted his second top-10 finish of the year in the recent Aaron’s 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup event at Talladega (AL) Superspeedway.
The MOOG Problem Solver award is presented to the crew chief whose car delivers the largest increase in average lap speed during the second half of each Sprint Cup event while finishing on the lead lap. After starting the race in 39th position, the MOOG chassis parts-equipped #34 Ford improved by .230-second per lap to finish ninth.
“David and Peter showed once again that their Front Row Sprint Cup team is as strong as anyone with a restrictor plate on a superspeedway,” said Federal-Mogul Motorsports Director Tim Nelson. “They made smart adjustments to the car all day, and the Front Row Motorsports team was flawless in the pits.”
Gilliland, who finished third at Daytona, picked up more than a dozen spots in the first half of yesterday’s race and teamed up with Tony Stewart in a two-car draft to crack the top 10 with 20 laps remaining. In one of the tightest finishes in Cup history, the top nine cars finished within a second of one another. And all nine, including race winner Jimmie Johnson’s #48 Chevrolet, were equipped with MOOG steering and suspension parts.
“It was a fantastic finish for the drivers, the fans and the MOOG brand,” Nelson said.
MOOG steering and suspension components are the leading choice of crew chiefs and automotive repair professionals and have helped drive an unprecedented 45 consecutive NASCAR Cup champions to victory. The unique benefits of MOOG components and other Federal-Mogul products are highlighted in the company’s innovative "Smart Choice" campaign, which reinforces the message that longer lasting, better performing replacement parts are today’s best option for technicians and consumers.
For additional information regarding MOOG chassis parts, visit the brand’s technician-focused www.moogproblemsolver.com website or contact your MOOG supplier. To identify the right MOOG part for virtually any application, use the convenient, free www.FMe-cat.com electronic catalog.
