Chad Knaus, crew chief for the MOOG steering and suspension-equipped No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet driven by Jimmie Johnson, was named MOOG “Problem Solver of the Race” after Johnson drove from the back of the field to post his eighth top-10 finish of the year during Sunday’s Quicken Loans 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup contest at Michigan International Speedway.
Knaus earned the award after the No. 48 Chevrolet delivered the greatest gain in average lap speed (0.345-second) over the second half of racing while finishing on the lead lap. The MOOG Problem Solver award is sponsored by Federal-Mogul Corporation, manufacturer of MOOG steering and suspension components and an array of other leading automotive replacement products.
Johnson and Knaus began the day in a deep hole, starting from the back of the field after choosing to replace their engine following Saturday’s extra practice session. That session, called for by NASCAR after a last-minute switch to a new tire compound to address blistering issues caused by the newly paved track, put unwanted extra miles on each team’s engine. Fearing a potential failure on one of the sport’s most demanding tracks, Knaus and the Hendrick Motorsports team decided to swap in fresh metal and count on Johnson and the MOOG-equipped Chevrolet to make up the deficit.
Make it up they did. Johnson was running in the top 10 by mid-race and Knaus helped make the No. 48 even better through a series of chassis adjustments and smart pit strategy over the final 100 laps.
“Chad is simply one of the very best in the sport. He made a tough call Saturday night, but one that gave them more confidence after the extra practice session,” said Federal-Mogul Motorsports Director Tim Nelson. “He knew he had the right chassis setup, so swapping in a new engine didn’t hurt them in the end. The No. 48 ran well all day, and Chad’s problem-solving expertise kept it within the top five over the final 50 laps.”
According to the company, MOOG steering and suspension components are the leading choice of crew chiefs and automotive repair professionals and have helped drive an unprecedented 46 consecutive NASCAR Cup champions to victory.
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.
