SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — A pit stop on which almost everything went wrong paradoxically helped propel Brad Keselowski and the MOOG Steering and Suspension-equipped No. 2 Ford Fusion to a runner-up finish in Sunday’s Windows 10 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway. That same problematic pit stop helped Keselowski’s crew chief, Paul Wolfe, earn MOOG “Problem Solver of the Race” honors for the second straight week. MOOG is the Official Steering and Suspension of NASCAR.
Wolfe’s latest MOOG award came on the basis of the Team Penske Ford’s race-best 0.674-second-per-lap improvement in average lap speed over the second half while finishing on the lead lap. The Problem Solver of the Week and season-ending $100,000 MOOG “Problem Solver of the Year” awards are sponsored by global vehicle components manufacturer Federal-Mogul Motorparts, a division of Federal-Mogul Holdings Corp.
Keselowski came onto pit road for what looked like a routine green-flag stop on Lap 56 (of 160), but the Ford’s brakes locked up and the car slid through its pit stall. After a prolonged stop and subsequent pass-through penalty, Keselowski was running one lap down in 37th position.
But that less-than-perfect pit stop also brought what Keselowski later said were critical adjustments to the car’s MOOG-equipped chassis. After Wolfe and his crew finished their work, the 2 car was one of the fastest on the track, methodically regaining position and running in the top 10 by the closing green-flag segment. Thanks to smart pit strategy and the car’s handling advantage, Keselowski was in perfect position to advance into second place when three front-runners ran out of fuel in the closing laps.
“Paul, Brad and the Team Penske crew never gave up, even when it looked like they had too much ground to make up,” said Tim Nelson, director of motorsports for Federal-Mogul Motorparts. “That was a gutsy performance by the entire team and a powerful example of problem solving excellence.”
Wolfe’s second weekly Problem Solver award moves him into a five-way tie for second place in the battle for year-end MOOG honors. Rookie crew chief Justin Alexander (Paul Menard/No. 27 Chevrolet) still leads with three weekly MOOG awards, followed by Wolfe, Todd Gordon (Joey Logano/No. 22 Ford), Chad Knaus (Jimmie Johnson/No. 48 Chevrolet), Greg Ives (Dale Earnhardt Jr./No. 88 Chevrolet) and Richard “Slugger” Labbe (Austin Dillon/No. 3 Chevrolet) with two wins apiece.
The MOOG brand, the preferred choice of professional technicians and NASCAR crew chiefs, is in its 50th year of Cup competition. In recognition of the vital importance of steering and suspension components in overall vehicle safety and performance, NASCAR mandates that Cup teams use MOOG Problem Solver parts, specifically ball joints and tie rod ends. Cup Series champions have chosen MOOG parts for 49 consecutive years.
To learn more about MOOG products, please contact your MOOG Steering and Suspension supplier or visit the technician-focused www.moogproblemsolver.com website. Like MOOG on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/moogproblemsolver and follow the brand on Twitter for product updates and special promotions.