Chad Knaus, crew chief for three-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, was presented the NASCAR® MOOG® “Problem Solver of the Race” Award following the Sharpie 500 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.
Knaus joins four other Sprint Cup crew chiefs who have won two MOOG Problem Solver of the Race Awards in 2009. Alan Gustafson (No. 5 Chevrolet) and Drew Blickensderfer (No. 17 Ford) lead the pack, with three wins apiece, in the competition for the season-ending MOOG “Problem Solver of the Year” Trophy.
The award, sponsored by Federal-Mogul Corporation, manufacturer of MOOG chassis parts, is presented following each Sprint Cup event to the crew chief whose team finishes on the lead lap and posts the largest increase in average lap speed from the first half to the second half of a race.
Johnson’s No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet started in 21st position but had captured the lead within the first 30 laps of Bristol’s historic .533-mile oval. Johnson clearly had one of the fastest cars for most of the evening. Nevertheless, the No. 48 car also posted the highest increase in average lap speed (.22 second) from the first to the second half of the race.
“Jimmie was fast all night long and his MOOG-equipped chassis was perfectly tuned for Bristol’s brutal short track,” says Federal-Mogul Motorsports Director Tim Nelson. “Chad and the No. 48 crew also made great adjustments throughout the race, and MOOG parts, as always, provided superior performance and durability. It seemed like Jimmie gained an additional edge following each trip to the pits – with one key exception.”
That sole exception came on Lap 423 when Johnson was forced to return to the pits for a second time for a repair. The No. 48 car eventually rejoined the action in 22nd position, on Lap 432. Yet Johnson and Knaus didn’t dwell on the setback and the No. 48 car eventually reclaimed 14 lost positions to finish 8th overall. That late surge surely played a role in Knaus’s MOOG Problem Solver Award, according to Nelson.
“Their ability to charge back into the top 10 over the final 60 laps shows why they are three-time defending series champions,” he says.
Contests for shops today abound, from Motor Age's annual Top Shops contest to national events from CARQUEST, NAPA and more, as well as local and regional competitions.
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