Kurt Busch Crew Chief Nick Harrison wins first MOOG 'Problem Solver' award at Fontana

Kurt Busch posted his first top-10 finish with Phoenix Racing and his crew chief, Nick Harrison, earned his first-ever MOOG® "Problem Solver of the Race" Award in Sunday's rain-shortened Auto Club 400 NASCAR® Sprint Cup Race at Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, Calif.

Busch’s MOOG steering and suspension- equipped No. 51 Phoenix Construction Services Chevrolet started the day in 23rd position but advanced to ninth place before the race was red-flagged on Lap 129.

Sponsored by global automotive components manufacturer Federal-Mogul Corporation, the MOOG Problem Solver award is presented to the crew chief whose car posts the best second-half improvement in average lap speed whilefinishing on the lead lap. Busch and the No. 51 car improved by a race-best .069-second following a series of early adjustments by Harrison and the Phoenix Racing crew. Harrison also called for Busch to stay out on the track during a caution on Lap 125, which helped the team crack the top 10 before heavy rain ended the day.

“Kurt is a great fit for the Phoenix Racing team and he and Nick have had the 51 car running well,” said Federal-Mogul Motorsports Director Tim Nelson. “The adjustments Nick made to their MOOG steering and suspension system during the first two pit stops made a huge difference on the track. That level of problem-solving performance is what the MOOG brand and the MOOG Problem Solver awards are all about.”

Busch, who joined the single-car team in December after several years with Penske Racing, praised the work of his new crew after earning his ninth top-10 finish in 19 starts at Fontana. “This just goes to show what results when you are smart all day,” he said. “The car’s going back onto the trailer without a scratch on it, with a top-10 finish. That’s a first for us this year, and good adjustments were the key.”

MOOG steering and suspension components are the leading choice of crew chiefs and automotive repair professionals and have helped drive an unprecedented 46 consecutive NASCAR Cup champions to victory.

For additional information regarding MOOG chassis parts, please visit the brand’s technician-focused website or contact your MOOG supplier. To identify the right MOOG part for virtually any application, please use the convenient, free electroniccatalog.