With just three NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts at Memphis Motorsports Park on his resume heading into this year's O'Reilly 200, Stacy Compton could have been considered more of a rookie than a veteran. But he proved all of that did not matter when he crossed the finish line 10th in the O'Reilly 200, his third of the season. On Friday he finished second in the first practice session and followed it up with a 12th place in the final practice.  Throughout the event the Red River Dodge was tight but the condition did not hinder Compton from leading the race for 21 laps early on and coming home 10th in the end.

After posting the second fastest time in the first practice and an 12th fastest time in the final practice Friday evening Compton headed into qualifying with renewed confidence. He qualified 15th for the O'Reilly 200 after going out eighth Saturday afternoon.
 
"The truck feels really good," said Compton just after the start of the 12th race of the season.  

He was running 16th when the second caution of the night flew on lap 36 for debris. "I am a little tight in the center and free on exit," Compton radioed in to Crew Chief Bryant Frazier. Together the two made the decision to hit pit road under the caution for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. Majority of the field elected to stay out relegating Compton to restart in the 25th spot.

The decision to pit while everyone stayed proved to be the winning ticket when the caution waved a few laps later for an accident in turn two. The leaders hit pit road and Compton moved into the lead while under caution.

Following the restart he was able to pull away and hold off eventual race winner Ron Hornaday Jr. for 21 laps before Hornaday passed the No. 4 Red River Dodge on lap 75. 

"I am a little tight in the center," said Compton as his Dodge Ram fell to third place.

The fourth caution waved a few laps later on lap 79, but Compton elected not to pit. The tight condition grew a little worse as the laps ticked away. Compton was running eighth when an accident in turn four brought out the fifth caution. Frazier called Compton down pit road for service. The Dodge Racing Team jumped into action changing four tires, adding fuel and a track bar adjustment to help the tight condition.  He restarted in 10th place.

Six laps later he was coming into turn three when a spin started to transpire directly in front of him. Compton used his veteran driving skills to slow down enough to miss the wreck, but not get hit in the rear at the same time. "Awesome save," said Frazier when he realized Compton had made it through the race.

The Red River Dodge stayed in 10th place until a late race caution on lap 199, which forced NASCAR to red flag the event for a short time, threatened the coveted 10th spot. 
Once the race was restarted Compton had two laps to hold off a hard-charging Michael Annett. As the two came out of turn four for the final time Compton was able to hold him off and score his third 10th place finish of the season.

Hornaday Jr. won the O'Reilly 200. Erik Darnell finished second, Matt Crafton, Rick Crawford, and David Starr followed in the top five.