The MOOG Problem Solver Award of the Race and season-ending Problem Solver of the Year awards are sponsored by MOOG Steering and Suspension manufacturer Federal-Mogul Motorparts, a division of Federal-Mogul Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: FDML). MOOG is the Official Steering and Suspension of NASCAR®.
Labbe’s award, his first of the year, came after the No. 3 car improved by a race-best 0.022 second per lap while finishing on the lead lap. The Richard Childress Racing-owned Chevrolet SS started second and led eight laps early. Dillon ran most of the night in the top 15, but restarted at the rear of the field near mid-race after sustaining damage in an earlier incident. The MOOG-equipped car quickly made up the deficit and was running at the front of the second pack of cars with nine laps remaining. Dillon improved to 11th over successive restarts in the closing laps and picked up four additional positions in the green-white-checkered finish. The race was won by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the MOOG-equipped No. 88 Chevrolet.
“Slugger and the RCR crew helped keep Austin in it with their repair work after the first incident and their ability to find additional speed through a series of chassis adjustments,” said Tim Nelson, director of motorsports for Federal-Mogul Motorparts. “The greatest reward for all of their hard work, of course, was to see Austin walk away from that crash at the end. We’re all very thankful he is okay.”
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 now requires 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.
Subscribe to Motor Age and receive articles like this every month…absolutely free. Click here
