Dale Earnhardt Jr. Crew Chief Steve Letarte Earns MOOG 'Problem Solver' Honors With Top-Five Finish At Kentucky

Main Navigation

Advertisement
Social Connect
Resources
Our Brand Family
Counterman - Babcox Media
Counterman has been serving auto parts jobbers, retailers and distributors since 1983.
News

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Crew Chief Steve Letarte Earns MOOG ‘Problem Solver’ Honors With Top-Five Finish At Kentucky

The weekly MOOG Problem Solver award is presented to the crew chief whose car posts the greatest second-half improvement in average lap time while finishing on the lead lap. Letarte's third weekly Problem Solver award, based on the 88 car's race-best 0.295-second-per-lap improvement at Kentucky, gives him a one-win lead in the season-long battle for the $100,000 MOOG Problem Solver of the Year Award.

Counterman Staff
By Counterman Staff
Published:

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — They qualified a distant 29th and driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. admitted he has yet to feel comfortable racing at Kentucky Speedway, but the No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet team – led by crew chief Steve Letarte – pulled out all the stops to earn their Sprint Cup Series-leading ninth top-five finish in Saturday night’s NASCAR Quaker State 400. Following the race, Letarte was named Federal-Mogul Motorparts’ MOOG Steering and Suspension Problem Solver of the Race for the third time this season.

Related Articles

The weekly MOOG Problem Solver award is presented to the crew chief whose car posts the greatest second-half improvement in average lap time while finishing on the lead lap. Letarte’s third weekly Problem Solver award, based on the 88 car’s race-best 0.295-second-per-lap improvement at Kentucky, gives him a one-win lead in the season-long battle for the $100,000 MOOG Problem Solver of the Year Award.

After struggling in qualifying and both practice sessions, Earnhardt gave all the credit for Saturday’s finish to Letarte and the Hendrick Motorsports crew, who worked throughout Friday night and all day Saturday to improve the 88 car’s performance. Those extra hours paid almost immediate dividends Saturday night as Earnhardt drove the MOOG-equipped Chevrolet SS into the top 10 within the first 35 laps. While the 88 was vastly improved, Letarte’s smart fuel and tire strategies played equally important roles in helping Earnhardt pick up more than a dozen positions in the early going. The Hendrick Motorsports crew was stout as well, delivering a succession of flawless stops that improved the 88 car’s running position.

“Steve would be the first to say that everyone on that team deserves a share of this MOOG Problem Solver win,” said Tim Nelson, director of motorsports for Federal-Mogul Motorparts. “Dale says he’s still trying to figure out how to race here, but he did a great job tonight. And the Hendrick crew demonstrated brilliant execution on pit road. They put all the pieces together on a track where the odds seemed to be stacked up against them just 24 hours earlier.”

MOOG Steering and Suspension is the preferred brand of professional technicians and NASCAR crew chiefs, and MOOG components are recognized as the automotive service industry’s “Problem Solver,” with innovative parts that improve on original designs by providing increased durability, enhanced performance and easier installation. NASCAR Cup champions have driven to victory with MOOG parts for an unprecedented 48 straight years.

For more information regarding the MOOG Problem Solver awards and MOOG products, visit the brand’s technician-focused www.moogproblemsolver.com website or contact your MOOG supplier. Like MOOG on Facebook at www.facebook.com/moogproblemsolver.

You May Also Like

Auto Industry

Customer Service: How It’s Done

Customer service should be your number one priority, and it all starts with the greeting.

Eric Garbe
By Eric Garbe
Eric Garbe is a graduate of Columbus State Community College with a degree in Automotive Maintenance Technology. He has extensive independent and dealership field experience as a technician and shop owner and is an ASE Certified Master Technician and former Adjunct Automotive Professor. He has been professionally writing automotive technical articles and documents for many years and in his free time enjoys restoring old cars and creating custom interiors and upholstery.
Published:

This is always an important topic to discuss, because I consider excellent customer service one of the most important tools you can have to earn trust, respect and repeat business from the customers that come through your door. Whether that customer is do-it-yourselfer from across town or the professional repair shop across the street, your business depends on a solid relationship.It’s a subject that I am passionate about, and it’s one that many people are losing touch with. Whether you are communicating to someone in person, on the phone or using some type of social media, good customer service and bad can both exist. You can’t afford the latter, so this is the first in a series of topics which can and should be shared from the front of the shop to the back. No matter which role you hold, you represent the shop and yourself. Customer service should be your number one priority.First on the list is the greeting. From the second a customer walks in the door, they need to know you appreciate them coming in and how important they are to your business. First impressions are everything and here’s the correct way to do it each and every time: look them directly in the eye, smile and say hello!Of course, you can say “Good morning” or “Welcome to Joe’s Autocare,” but it should be a formal greeting and the most important thing is that you have smiled, looked them in the eye and recognized that they have walked through the door.You should always retain a formal greeting until you are on a first-name basis with a customer. Only once you have established that level of relationship is it OK to use the less formal greeting of “Hi,” followed by the person’s name.This greeting does more than just indicate respect and appreciation for someone walking through the door. Most likely there are customers both new and old who are in earshot of your conversation. For newer customers, this continues to build rapport and reinforce their positive view of your shop; they see that you demonstrate respect and treat everyone in the same manner. For repeat customers, even ones that have been coming for years, the greeting is important because the way you treat them is the reason they continue to come.And when a long-time customer comes in and you greet them with “Hi [First Name],” this indicates your appreciation for them and that you’re glad to see them as a person, more than just a customer. New customers that witness this will see that your repeat customers are comfortable enough to be on a first-name basis, another indication of the trust they have in you.

Read Full Article

More News Posts
MEMA Launches At-Home REPAIR Campaign

The next step in the campaign to get the REPAIR Act passed is to get aftermarket suppliers involved.

By Emma Henderson
Shaw Assumes Leadership of MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers

Collin Shaw succeeds Julie Fream who served 10 years in the position.

By Emma Henderson
AACF Launches 65th Anniversary Fundraising Initiative

The campaign aims to raise $65,000 through 1,000 donations of $65 each.

By Counterman Staff
Schaeffler Publishes 2023 Sustainability Report 

Schaeffler was awarded an “A” score in the climate change category for 2023 by the global non-profit environmental organization CDP for corporate transparency and performance.

By Emma Henderson
Schaeffler Sustainability Report

Other Posts

Introducing ‘Sustainability by Schaeffler’ on Counterman.com

In the weeks and months ahead, stay tuned for more sustainability content from Schaeffler and Counterman.

By Josh Cable
Schaeffler Sustainability
Jacki Lutz Named Content Director at Auto Care Association

Lutz will be tasked with leading a cross-functional and multimedia content strategy, development and execution across all platforms.

By Josh Cable
Jacki Lutz Auto Care
Auto Care Association Certified as a Great Place to Work

“This prestigious award is a testament to the association’s commitment to creating an inclusive, supportive and dynamic work environment for its employees,” Auto Care said.

By Josh Cable
HD Repair Shops Report Increases in Counter Sales, Labor Rates

The data comes from a Fullbay report published in partnership with ATA’s Technology and Maintenance Council.

By Josh Cable
Heavy Duty Repair