Ryan Newman Crew Chief Matt Borland Is Season's First Multi-Race MOOG 'Problem Solver' Award Winner

Main Navigation

Advertisement
Social Connect
Resources
Our Brand Family
Counterman - Babcox Media
Counterman has been serving auto parts jobbers, retailers and distributors since 1983.
News

Ryan Newman Crew Chief Matt Borland Is Season’s First Multi-Race MOOG ‘Problem Solver’ Award Winner

In addition to weekly MOOG Problem Solver honors, Federal-Mogul sponsors the $100,000 MOOG "Problem Solver of the Year" Award, which is presented to the crew chief with the best overall performance throughout the 36-race season.

Counterman Staff
By Counterman Staff
Published:

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — Matt Borland, crew chief for Ryan Newman and the No. 39 Quicken Loans Chevrolet SS, became the season’s first multi-race winner of the MOOG Steering and Suspension “Problem Solver of the Race” Award following Saturday night’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup contest at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. Newman and Borland twice came back from a lap down and overcame loose handling to post their fifth top-10 finish in 11 starts.

Related Articles

Sponsored by global vehicle components manufacturer Federal-Mogul Corp. (NASDAQ: FDML), the MOOG Problem Solver of the Race Award is presented to the crew chief whose car posts the greatest improvement in average lap time over the second half of each Sprint Cup event while finishing on the lead lap. The MOOG-equipped 39 car, which started 21st, was 0.124-second faster over the final 183 laps of Darlington’s 1.37-mile oval.

Responding to Newman’s concerns about loose handling, Borland made a series of track bar, wedge and other chassis adjustments to help improve the Stewart-Haas team’s position over the second half of the 367-lap race. A caution on Lap 301 gave Borland another chance to dial in the car’s steering and suspension system for the final sprint to the finish. With the help of a caution on Lap 328, Newman advanced to 13th and then picked up three more spots in the final green-flag run to finish 10th.

“There are times, especially when you don’t have the fastest car on the track, that your crew chief’s ability to sense changing track conditions can make a huge difference in your finish. Matt made every conceivable adjustment to help Ryan capture another top 10,” said Federal-Mogul Motorsports Director Tim Nelson. “He was solving problems all night long and that’s why he has added another MOOG award to his resume.”

In addition to weekly MOOG Problem Solver honors, Federal-Mogul sponsors the $100,000 MOOG “Problem Solver of the Year” Award, which is presented to the crew chief with the best overall performance throughout the 36-race season. Borland now holds a one-win advantage over 9 other crew chiefs in the standings for the year-end award.

As the automotive service industry’s “Problem Solver,” MOOG is the preferred brand of professional technicians and NASCAR crew chiefs. 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.

You May Also Like

Auto Industry

Customer Service: How It’s Done

Customer service should be your number one priority, and it all starts with the greeting.

Eric Garbe
By Eric Garbe
Eric Garbe is a graduate of Columbus State Community College with a degree in Automotive Maintenance Technology. He has extensive independent and dealership field experience as a technician and shop owner and is an ASE Certified Master Technician and former Adjunct Automotive Professor. He has been professionally writing automotive technical articles and documents for many years and in his free time enjoys restoring old cars and creating custom interiors and upholstery.
Published:

This is always an important topic to discuss, because I consider excellent customer service one of the most important tools you can have to earn trust, respect and repeat business from the customers that come through your door. Whether that customer is do-it-yourselfer from across town or the professional repair shop across the street, your business depends on a solid relationship.It’s a subject that I am passionate about, and it’s one that many people are losing touch with. Whether you are communicating to someone in person, on the phone or using some type of social media, good customer service and bad can both exist. You can’t afford the latter, so this is the first in a series of topics which can and should be shared from the front of the shop to the back. No matter which role you hold, you represent the shop and yourself. Customer service should be your number one priority.First on the list is the greeting. From the second a customer walks in the door, they need to know you appreciate them coming in and how important they are to your business. First impressions are everything and here’s the correct way to do it each and every time: look them directly in the eye, smile and say hello!Of course, you can say “Good morning” or “Welcome to Joe’s Autocare,” but it should be a formal greeting and the most important thing is that you have smiled, looked them in the eye and recognized that they have walked through the door.You should always retain a formal greeting until you are on a first-name basis with a customer. Only once you have established that level of relationship is it OK to use the less formal greeting of “Hi,” followed by the person’s name.This greeting does more than just indicate respect and appreciation for someone walking through the door. Most likely there are customers both new and old who are in earshot of your conversation. For newer customers, this continues to build rapport and reinforce their positive view of your shop; they see that you demonstrate respect and treat everyone in the same manner. For repeat customers, even ones that have been coming for years, the greeting is important because the way you treat them is the reason they continue to come.And when a long-time customer comes in and you greet them with “Hi [First Name],” this indicates your appreciation for them and that you’re glad to see them as a person, more than just a customer. New customers that witness this will see that your repeat customers are comfortable enough to be on a first-name basis, another indication of the trust they have in you.

Read Full Article

More News Posts
MEMA Launches At-Home REPAIR Campaign

The next step in the campaign to get the REPAIR Act passed is to get aftermarket suppliers involved.

By Emma Henderson
Shaw Assumes Leadership of MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers

Collin Shaw succeeds Julie Fream who served 10 years in the position.

By Emma Henderson
AACF Launches 65th Anniversary Fundraising Initiative

The campaign aims to raise $65,000 through 1,000 donations of $65 each.

By Counterman Staff
Schaeffler Publishes 2023 Sustainability Report 

Schaeffler was awarded an “A” score in the climate change category for 2023 by the global non-profit environmental organization CDP for corporate transparency and performance.

By Emma Henderson
Schaeffler Sustainability Report

Other Posts

Introducing ‘Sustainability by Schaeffler’ on Counterman.com

In the weeks and months ahead, stay tuned for more sustainability content from Schaeffler and Counterman.

By Josh Cable
Schaeffler Sustainability
Jacki Lutz Named Content Director at Auto Care Association

Lutz will be tasked with leading a cross-functional and multimedia content strategy, development and execution across all platforms.

By Josh Cable
Jacki Lutz Auto Care
Auto Care Association Certified as a Great Place to Work

“This prestigious award is a testament to the association’s commitment to creating an inclusive, supportive and dynamic work environment for its employees,” Auto Care said.

By Josh Cable
HD Repair Shops Report Increases in Counter Sales, Labor Rates

The data comes from a Fullbay report published in partnership with ATA’s Technology and Maintenance Council.

By Josh Cable
Heavy Duty Repair