Kurt Busch pits with the leaders early in the Checker Auto Parts 500. Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Sunoco Pit Move of the Week: Phoenix

Kurt Busch was hoping the Checker Auto Parts 500 would stay green for the final 90 laps, but it didn't work out that way.

It didn't really matter. He found an alternate way to score a top-10.

VIDEO Sunoco Pit Move Pit Move of the Week: Phoenix

Busch attempted to win at Phoenix using a fuel-mileage strategy, as he pitted with just fewer than 100 to go.

Busch actually ran out of gas on Lap 222. He got to pit road without a problem, and his team performed a 14.4 second pit stop, but Busch lost five seconds in the pits while trying to get his car refired.

Busch was getting superior fuel mileage and his car was excellent on long runs, but since he was running with just second, third and fourth gear, he needed a minimal amount of cautions, especially with the delay getting out of the pits.

He didn't get it, as five more yellow flags marred the race. Each one was a quandary for Busch, who didn't have first gear, and it basically ruined his goal to stay on the track to the finish.

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As it turns out, it didn't matter much, because crew chief Jimmy Fennig made what turned out to be a smart call.

When Johnny Sauter crashed on Lap 240, Fennig decided to come in for four tires -- and that would be the final stop of the day for Busch.

Busch restarted 24th, but the move turned out to be a solid one, because Busch gained track position with each of the ensuing cautions, although it took him several laps each time to get up to speed.

Busch gained several spots on Lap 282 when he elected to stay out, while a handful of the lead lap cars elected to pit.

Busch crossed the line 10th, his seventh top-10 in the eight Chase races.

"It's a big picture day," said Busch, who also got five bonus points for leading 14 laps. "We were able to put together a 10th-place effort to maintain."

"These were two tough races for us, with the motor failure last week, and then today, just not being able to each our potential, with track position and struggling with a couple of circumstances on the track."