MOOG steering and suspension components from Federal-Mogul will once again be the predominant choice of NASCAR Sprint Cup crew chiefs and drivers in Sunday’s Daytona 500. And if history repeats itself – as it has for 45 consecutive years – the 2011 Sprint Cup points champion will secure his title with the help of precision-engineered MOOG parts.

“No one could have predicted this level of success for MOOG products when we first entered Cup racing back in the 1960s,” said Michael Proud, marketing director, North America, Federal-Mogul. “More than four decades later we’re still creating innovative, problem-solving parts that not only help teams win championships, but also deliver outstanding performance and reliability in millions of passenger vehicles. What we learn at the racetrack ultimately becomes part of the MOOG brand’s competitive advantage in vehicle service garages across North America.”

MOOG’s 45-year Cup championship streak has included several record-setting performances by many of the sport’s biggest names, including Jimmie Johnson, who won a record fifth consecutive Cup Series title in 2010. Only two other drivers – Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, both of whom relied on MOOG parts – have won five or more Cup championships, though not consecutively.

“Consistency has been the hallmark of Jimmie’s five-year run,” said Federal-Mogul Motorsports Director Tim Nelson. “It’s our job as a premier steering and suspension provider to give the #48 Chevrolet and every other MOOG-equipped car the ultra-precise steering they need in all race conditions. That’s why Jimmie and these other drivers have a legitimate shot at winning any race on any track.”

Sunday’s race also marks the beginning of a heated battle among crew chiefs for the prestigious MOOG “Problem Solver of the Year” Award. Following each Sprint Cup points race, Federal-Mogul presents the MOOG “Problem Solver of the Race” Award to the crew chief whose car delivers the largest increase in average lap speed during the second half of the event while finishing on the lead lap. The crew chief with the most weekly wins at the end of the season receives an attractive cash prize and the MOOG brand’s impressive “Problem Solver of the Year” trophy.

For more information regarding MOOG chassis parts, visit the brand’s technician-focused www.moogproblemsolver.com website or contact your MOOG supplier.