Greg Biffle and the #16 3M Ford pulled away from pole-sitter Tony Stewart in the closing minutes of the rain-delayed NASCAR Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway Sunday to capture the team’s first Sprint Cup victory of the year. Following the race, Biffle’s crew chief, Greg Erwin, was named MOOG “Problem Solver of the Race” in recognition of the #16 car’s nearly half-second increase in average lap speed over the final 100 laps of competition.
Sponsored by MOOG chassis parts manufacturer and global vehicle parts supplier Federal-Mogul Corporation, the MOOG award is presented to the crew chief whose car posts the largest increase in average lap speed from the first half to the second half of a Sprint Cup race while finishing on the lead lap. The #16 Ford posted a race-best 0.428-second-per-lap improvement at Pocono.
Biffle’s win, his first in nearly two years, was especially meaningful to employees and friends of team owner Jack Roush of Roush Fenway Racing, who was seriously injured in a plane crash last week. In spite of a nearly two-year winless streak, the #16 car has been competitive throughout 2010, with three top-five and 11 top-10 finishes, and stands 11th in Sprint Cup points.
Erwin and crew gave Biffle a strong car at the start, but the #16 Ford seemed to come into its own as track temperatures cooled following each of two rain delays. Biffle reported that the car’s precisely tuned MOOG-equipped chassis provided exceptional steering response and handling at virtually all points on the track.
“Biffle finished third with this same chassis at Indianapolis last week, and Greg Erwin and his crew had exactly the right setup for the constantly changing weather conditions,” said Federal-Mogul Motorsports Director Tim Nelson. “MOOG chassis parts once again played a key role in an impressive Sprint Cup win.”
Available through vehicle service shops and parts stores throughout the U.S. and Canada, MOOG chassis parts are the leading choice of crew chiefs and automotive repair professionals. 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 learn more about the Federal-Mogul “Smart Choice” campaign, simply visit www.FMSmartChoice.com.
