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04-29-2008
COMPTON: Bad Luck Once Again Strikes at Kansas
Stacy Compton went to Kansas with the intention of getting rid of the monkey
on his back that has been plaguing the Dodge Racing Team since their sixth-place
finish in Daytona Beach.
Compton started out qualifying 15th for the O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas
Speedway, but struggled with a tight race truck in the opening laps of the
event.
Then on lap 37, bad luck once again struck the driver. As Compton was holding
his line though the corner, a competitor jumped to his outside which took the
air off his spoiler causing it to jump loose. As the No. 4 Dodge slid sideways
Compton showed his veteran driving skills by keeping the truck off the outside
retaining wall, but as he slid down the race track to slow the truck down he
went directly into the path of another truck thus causing major rear end damage.
Despite the mangled truck, Compton was able to salvage a 20th place finish.
Compton qualified in the 15th position Saturday morning by posting a speed of
168.135 mph. It was his fourth top-15 qualifying effort this season.
In the opening laps Compton battled a tight race truck that prevented him from
being able to pass and lose five spots.
Thankfully, the first caution came on lap 27 and allowed Compton to bring the
No. 4 Gladstone Dodge down pit road for a few adjustments. The Dodge Racing team
jumped into action changing all four tires, adding fuel, removing tape from the
front grill and going up four rounds on the track bar. He restarted in the 20th
spot.
Just as Compton was getting the No. 4 Dodge Ram up to speed after the restart
disaster struck. He was heading into turn four when a truck jumped to his
outside which immediately took the air off of the rear spoiler and sent the No.
4 Dodge spinning to the left. Compton did an amazing job keeping the Dodge truck
off the outside wall. As the truck slowed down it slid down the banking of the
track and directly into the path of another truck. The two vehicles collided
resulting in substantial damage to the rear of the No. 4 Dodge.
"I had it saved and he just ran right into us," said a frustrated Compton. He
was able to drive the truck down pit road to the attention of his Dodge Racing
Team.
The team jumped into action using a combination of a baseball bat, duct tape and
bearbond to hold the damaged sheet metal down. After multiple trips down pit
lane to repair the damage Compton returned to the track in 28th position.
"It keeps wanting to snap around," said Compton a couple of laps after the
restart. "I am doing everything I can to keep from wrecking again." Crew Chief
Bryant Frazier assured Compton they would adjust on the truck under the next
caution.
The fourth of 12 cautions waved on lap 67 for a spin in turn four. Compton hit
pit road for service. The Dodge Racing Team made more repairs to the No. 4 Dodge
and sent Compton on his way.
Slowly, but surely he was able to gain positions on the track. "It feels like I
am pulling a parachute behind me," radioed Compton on lap 84. Frazier encouraged
Compton to hang in there.
The eight caution came out on lap 108 for an accident in turn four while Compton
was running 24th. Frazier called Compton down pit road for the last stop of the
day. The Dodge Racing team changed all four tires, added fuel and made a wedge
adjustment to help the loose condition.
The last adjustments proved to aid the loose condition as Compton was able to
gain five spots in the final laps of the event. He finished the event in 20th
position.
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