Ives won the weekly Problem Solver award – sponsored by Federal-Mogul Motorparts, a division of Federal-Mogul Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: FDML) – after the MOOG-equipped 88 car posted a race-best 0.132-second-per-lap improvement in average lap time over the second half of the race while finishing on the lead lap. Earnhardt needed every measure of that improvement to beat out McMurray and the No. 1 Chevrolet, giving him one of the final spots in the second round of the Chase.
“Dale Junior and Jamie put on a great show over the final 60 laps, but Greg and the 88 team ultimately gave their driver a slightly better car for the final restart,” said Tim Nelson, director of motorsports for Federal-Mogul Motorparts. “They faced a lot of challenges out there and had to fight to regain position a couple of times, but Greg did a great job of keeping Dale focused on finding and passing Jamie and earning a top-five finish.”
Earnhardt, who started 12th, had picked up three spots over the first 130 laps when a loose lug nut and a resulting return to pit road cost the team 10 positions. The 88 responded, however, by posting an impressive string of top-five lap times, improving to 15th by Lap 179, 11th by Lap 212 and fifth by Lap 325. But in spite of their steady improvement, the team couldn’t shake McMurray and the MOOG-equipped 1 car, which simply needed to beat Earnhardt by a single position to advance in the Chase. Their battle came down to a restart on Lap 376, when the 88 car blasted past McMurray and three other drivers. Earnhardt was able to hold off McMurray over the final green-flag run, finishing third to the No. 1 car’s fourth. The race was won by Kevin Harvick and the MOOG-equipped No. 4 Chevrolet.
With seven races remaining, Ives now holds a two-win margin over rookie crew chief Justin Alexander (No. 27 Chevrolet/Paul Menard) in the battle for the $100,000 year-end MOOG Problem Solver of the Year Award. Seven crew chiefs have two wins apiece.
The MOOG brand is the preferred choice of professional technicians and NASCAR crew chiefs. 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 won with 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.
About Federal-Mogul
Federal-Mogul Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: FDML) is a leading global supplier of products and services to the world’s manufacturers and servicers of vehicles and equipment in the automotive, light, medium and heavy-duty commercial, marine, rail, aerospace, power generation and industrial markets. The company’s products and services enable improved fuel economy, reduced emissions and enhanced vehicle safety.
Federal-Mogul operates two independent business divisions, each with a chief executive officer reporting to Federal-Mogul's Board of Directors.
Federal-Mogul Motorparts sells and distributes a broad portfolio of products through more than 20 of the world’s most recognized brands in the global vehicle aftermarket, while also serving original equipment vehicle manufacturers with products including braking, chassis, wipers and other vehicle components. The company’s aftermarket brands include ANCO® wiper blades; Champion® spark plugs, wipers and filters; AE®, Fel-Pro®, FP Diesel®, Goetze®, Glyco®, Nüral®, Payen® and Sealed Power® engine products; MOOG® steering and suspension parts; and Ferodo®, Jurid® and Wagner® brake products.
Federal-Mogul Powertrain designs and manufactures original equipment powertrain components and systems protection products for automotive, heavy-duty, industrial and transport applications. Federal-Mogul was founded in Detroit in 1899 and maintains its worldwide headquarters in Southfield, Michigan. The company employs nearly 50,000 in 34 countries. For more information, please visit www.federalmogul.com.
