While it’s too late for rookie driver Kyle Larson to join the Chase for the Sprint Cup field, his crew chief, Chris Heroy, is making plenty of noise in the $100,000 MOOG Steering and Suspension “Problem Solver of the Year” competition, winning weekly “Problem Solver” honors for the second straight event following Sunday’s Sylvania 300 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The MOOG Problem Solver awards are sponsored by Federal-Mogul Motorparts, a division of Federal-Mogul Holdings Corporation.
Heroy earned weekly Problem Solver honors after Larson and the MOOG-equipped No. 42 Target Chevrolet posted the greatest second-half improvement (0.319-second per lap) while finishing on the lead lap in Sunday’s race. Larson finished second, proving that last week’s third-place finish in the Chase opener was no fluke.
The MOOG award win is Heroy’s second of the year, elevating him into a five-way tie for second place in the year-end Problem Solver standings. Crew chiefs Jimmy Fennig (No. 99 Ford, Carl Edwards) and Steve Letarte (No. 88 Chevrolet, Dale Earnhardt Jr.) lead the way with three weekly MOOG wins each.
“Kyle and Chris are performing as well as anyone out there,” said Tim Nelson, director of Motorsports for Federal-Mogul Motorparts. “It’s only a matter of time before they get their first Sprint Cup win. Kyle is an excellent driver and Chris and the Chip Ganassi Racing team are nailing their chassis setups, which is one of the most difficult challenges from week to week.”
Larson, who was edged out of the Chase field two weeks ago at Richmond, started 10th but was running loose during the first half of the race. The 42 car made a hard charge toward the front in the second half and held its position over a succession of late-race restarts. Joey Logano and the MOOG-equipped No. 22 Ford Fusion took the checkered flag, giving Team Penske a sweep of the first two Chase events.
According to the company, MOOG Steering and Suspension is the preferred brand of professional technicians and NASCAR crew chiefs, and MOOG components are recognized as the automotive service industry’s “Problem Solver,” with innovative parts that improve on original designs by providing increased durability, enhanced performance and easier installation. NASCAR Cup champions have driven to victory with MOOG parts for an unprecedented 48 straight years.
For more information regarding the MOOG Problem Solver awards and MOOG products, visit the brand’s technician-focused www.moogproblemsolver.com website or contact your MOOG supplier. Like MOOG on Facebook at www.facebook.com/moogproblemsolver.
