CONCORD, N.C. -- Greg Ives, crew chief of the No. 88 team, gave some insight on the team’s goals and strategies as the Cup Series field heads to Daytona International Speedway for the last regular-season race on Saturday.
Ives, driver Alex Bowman and the rest of the No. 88 team are coming off a fifth-place finish at Dover on Sunday and already are locked into the playoffs with a win at Auto Club Speedway in March. With Bowman’s spot secured, the goal is to help teammates Jimmie Johnson and William Byron solidify their spots in the playoffs at Daytona International Speedway.
“We got to continue to put the numbers behind those guys, whether it’s just us individually or as a manufacturer, and I feel like other teams are trying to do the same,” Ives said on SiriusXM. “The biggest thing is knowing that you have teammates out there. If you put yourself in a situation, sometimes in these races that can cost you a lot of spots by being aggressive. But if you know you have a teammate out there that can catch you, then you will make those moves.”
Ives’ plan for Daytona is to focus on running a strategic race and making calculated moves that will help Bowman be in the best position to succeed and help his teammates.
“The easiest part of completing a successful plan is running well yourself,” said Ives. “Putting yourself at the front, understanding what moves you need to make and executing them with confidence. It’s not riding around in the back and sitting behind your teammate; it’s going out there and executing your plan as best as you can.”
The Hendrick Motorsports teams recently made a late-season push, combining for one win, six top-five finishes and eight top-10s in the last three races. Bowman’s fifth-place result at Dover on Sunday was the momentum the team needed after its 21st-place finish at the track on Saturday.
“The second race was a little bit better than the way our first race went and the first seven laps there,” said Ives. “That is part of racing, sometimes you get a bent-up fender but it’s how you react and move forward that counts.”
With this momentum built over the last several events, the drivers hope to cap off a chaotic season with another successful race in Florida.
Be sure to check out Ives and the No. 88 team as they head to Daytona International Speedway Saturday, Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC.