Kevin Harvick and crew chief Gil Martin posted their fourth consecutive top-10 finish and the #29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet team extended its NASCAR Sprint Cup points in Saturday’s Showtime Southern 500 at Darlington (SC) Raceway. Following the race, Martin received his second NASCAR MOOG “Problem Solver of the Race” Award in recognition of the #29 team’s impressive recovery from a back-of-the-pack starting position on NASCAR’s oldest and toughest track.
The innovative MOOG award, sponsored by global automotive components manufacturer Federal-Mogul Corporation, is presented following each Sprint Cup event to the crew chief whose car posts the largest increase in average lap speed from the first half to the second half of the race while finishing on the lead lap. Harvick’s #29 Chevrolet was fast from the very start – picking up eight positions in the first 19 laps – but even faster in the second half with a race-high 0.408 second-per-lap improvement to finish sixth on the demanding 1.366-mile oval.
“Darlington is tough on crew chiefs, who have to find a chassis setup that will give their drivers enough grip in the corners without losing steering and handling response,” said Federal-Mogul Motorsports Director Tim Nelson. “The #29 car’s MOOG-equipped chassis seemed to get better throughout the night.”
The team’s eighth top-10 finish of the season marked its best performance in the last seven starts at Darlington. Harvick now holds a 110-point advantage over four-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson in the quest for the 2010 Sprint Cup title.
“It’s great to see Kevin and Gil get a breakthrough at Darlington,” Nelson said. “We’re very pleased MOOG chassis parts played an important part in their success.”
MOOG chassis parts help deliver the consistent, precise steering and handling response needed to ensure success in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition. That’s why MOOG is the preferred chassis brand of crew chiefs and professional technicians. MOOG products are available through leading auto parts providers and vehicle service providers across North America.
The benefits of MOOG parts and other leading Federal-Mogul repair solutions are at the center of the company’s innovative new "Smart Choice" multi-brand campaign designed to reinforce the message that longer lasting, better performing premium replacement products are today’s best option for professionals and do-it-yourselfers.
For additional information regarding MOOG steering and suspension products, visit the brand’s technician-focused www.moogproblemsolver.com website or contact your MOOG supplier. To learn more about the Federal-Mogul “Smart Choice” campaign, simply visit www.fmsmartchoice.com.
