Dale Earnhardt Jr. crew chief Greg Ives Earns MOOG Problem Solver honors at Texas Motor Speedway

April 14, 2015
Greg Ives, crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr., received the MOOG “Problem Solver of the Race” Award after the 88 car fought its way through the field to finish third in the Duck Commander 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

Greg Ives, crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the MOOG® Steering and Suspension-equipped No.88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS, received the MOOG “Problem Solver of the Race” Award after the 88 car fought its way through the field multiple times to finish third in the Duck Commander 500 NASCAR® Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. Ives is the seventh different crew chief in the year’s first seven Sprint Cup starts to win the award. MOOG is the Official Steering and Suspension of NASCAR.

Sponsored by Federal-Mogul Motorparts, a division of Federal-Mogul Holdings Corporation, the weekly MOOG award recognizes problem solving excellence on pit road as measured by a team’s second-half improvement in average lap time while finishing on the lead lap. Ives and the Hendrick Motorsports-owned 88 car delivered a race-best 0.431-second boost over the final 167 laps at TMS.

Earnhardt qualified 25th but picked up 15 positions within the first 30 laps. A loose wheel sent the Chevrolet SS back onto pit road and a restart in 30th position, but it again cracked the top 10 by Lap 103 and ran as high as second behind the MOOG-equipped 48 Chevrolet of Hendrick teammate and eventual race winner Jimmie Johnson. Two other MOOG-equipped Hendrick Chevrolets – the No. 24 of Jeff Gordon and No. 5 of Kasey Kahne – finished in the top 10.

“We saw several impressive examples of in-race problem solving on pit road tonight, but no one was better than Greg at addressing the changing track conditions over the second half,” said Tim Nelson, director of motorsports for Federal-Mogul Motorparts. “He and Dale Junior have run strong all spring; it’s only a matter of time until they get their first win of the year.”  

The MOOG brand, the preferred choice of professional technicians and NASCAR crew chiefs, is in its 50th year of Cup competition. MOOG parts have been the choice of every Cup series champion since 1966, an unprecedented 49-year winning streak.

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.

Subscribe to Motor Age and receive articles like this every month…absolutely free. Click here

About the Author

Motor Age Staff

Motor Age has been publishing technical content for professional automotive technicians since 1899. Our writers have decades of experience and scores of ASE certifications, and they continue to teach new generations of technicians via classrooms all around the globe, as well as through the books and training manuals they've authored. 

Sponsored Recommendations

AIRCAT Solutions - Small Ratchets With Enormous Power

Experience the power of AIRCAT's diverse ratchet selection. Each designed with a unique transmission gear for faster torque buildup and unbeatable performance. Their compact sizes...

Unmatched Power and Comfort: AIRCAT Grinders for Every Workspace

AIRCAT grinders deliver powerful performance with high RPM and efficient, quiet operation. Designed for comfort and control, they feature ergonomic handles, extended reach, and...

What Are the Advantages of Air Tools Over Cordless Tools?

Discover the advantages of air tools over cordless tools.

AIRCAT Tool Reviews: The Nitrocat 1056-XL Compact

Hear what senior autotechs have to say about the AIRCAT Nitrocat 1056-XL compact impact wrench. They’ll provide their reviews on tools they own and have been using every day on...

Voice Your Opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Vehicle Service Pros, create an account today!