Todd Gordon, crew chief for Joey Logano and Penske Racing’s No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Fusion, received his second MOOG Steering and Suspension “Problem Solver of the Race” Award after Logano posted his sixth top-10 finish in 16 starts during Sunday’s Party in the Poconos NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa. Gordon now trails Ryan Newman (No. 39 Chevrolet) crew chief Matt Borland by one weekly MOOG win in the battle for the $100,000 MOOG “Problem Solver of the Year” Award.
Sponsored by global vehicle components manufacturer Federal-Mogul Corporation, the MOOG Problem Solver of the Race Award is presented to the crew chief whose car posts the greatest improvement in average lap time during the second half of the race while finishing on the lead lap. The No. 22 Ford topped the field with a 0.528-second improvement to finish 10th on Pocono’s 2.5-mile “Tricky Triangle.”
Logano and Gordon were relegated to 21st position on the starting grid after Friday’s qualifying session was rained out, but the 22 car ran in the top 15 for much of the afternoon. Gordon called for a series of adjustments to the car’s MOOG-equipped steering and suspension to maximize handling precision and tire grip as track conditions changed, enabling Logano to extend his momentum in his first year with the Penske organization. The 22 team improved two positions, to 16th, in Sprint Cup points.
“Todd called a really strong race on a day when the winner (Jimmie Johnson) just ran away from the field,” said Federal-Mogul Motorsports Director Tim Nelson. “The Penske crew kept their heads up and Todd and Joey focused on maximizing their setup during every pit stop. Making the Chase is all about grinding away in races like this to make sure you get a top 10 or top five, and that’s exactly what the 22 team did today.”
With two weekly MOOG award wins, Gordon is just one win behind Matt Borland for season-ending MOOG Problem Solver of the Year honors. But with just 16 races in the books and 11 different crew chiefs having claimed MOOG honors, there’s still no favorite for the $100,000 prize.
As the automotive service industry’s “Problem Solver,” MOOG is the preferred brand of professional technicians and NASCAR crew chiefs, said the company. Federal-Mogul’s MOOG steering and suspension product engineers work in partnership with Sprint Cup teams to develop and test innovative designs that help provide race-winning performance and durability. Many of these same technologies are featured in MOOG ball joints, tie rod ends and other components available for today’s passenger vehicles.
For more information regarding MOOG steering and suspension 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.
