Bad Day at Martinsville for Compton and Crew
04-02-2008 | Martinsville, Virginia
Stacy Compton No. 4 Shelor Dodge Ram Race Recap The Kroger 250 Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville, VA (April 1, 2008) Dodge Driver Stacy Compton fell victim to the Martinsville massacre Saturday afternoon during a caution-filled Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway. After starting in 26th position Compton had worked his way up to the 11th spot when a multi-truck wreck happened in front of him. Compton jumped to the inside of the race track with the guidance of spotter, Mark Melling, to miss the spinning trucks. Just as Compton was about to clear the wreckage another truck clipped the tail of the No. 4 Dodge sending him spinning backwards into the mayhem. After going behind the wall to repair the extensive damage Compton returned to the track and salvaged a 35th place finish.
The No. 4 Shelor Dodge Martinsivlle Race Recap
After qualifying and starting the race in 26th position Compton struggled with an extremely tight race truck in the early laps of the 250 lap event. By lap 33 Compton fell to the 32nd position and was one lap down to the leader. The first caution waved on lap 42 for an accident in turn four. It will not turn, said a frustrated Compton while running 31st under the caution. It has no forward bite and is sliding the nose. Crew Chief Bryant Frazier assured Compton he would make the necessary changes under the next caution. Luckily for Compton the next caution waved several laps later on lap 51 for debris. Compton hit pit road to the attention of the Shelor Dodge Racing Team. They changed right side tires, made a track bar adjustment and added fuel. Compton restarted in the 29th position back on the lead lap. Just as Compton was getting a feel for his truck and the recent adjustments, the fourth caution waved for an accident in turn four on lap 64. It is not any better, said Compton. Frazier made the call to bring Compton back down pit road for another round of adjustments. The Shelor Dodge Racing Team changed left side tires, went down two rounds on the track bar and added fuel to the No. 4 Dodge. He restarted in the 30th position. Slowly, but surely the track bar adjustment proved to work as Compton began to gain positions on the track. He had worked his way up to the 26th spot when another caution waved for a wreck in turn three. We are going to come in for fuel only, advised Frazier. Compton hit pit road for fuel and restarted in the 17th position. Save as much fuel for me as you can, coached Frazier. We should not have to pit again. Compton did just that while working his way into the 11th position on lap 134. Just two laps later disaster struck in front of the No. 4 Shelor Dodge. As smoke clouded his view Compton jumped to the inside line in an attempt to clear the wreckage. He was well on his way to safety when a spinning truck clipped the tail of the Shelor Dodge sending it spinning around into the wrecking trucks. The damage forced Compton and team behind the wall to repair the mangled sheet metal and replace the busted radiator. After 36 long laps behind the wall Compton returned to the action and salvaged a 35th place finish.
Bobby Hamilton Racing teammate Dennis Setzer won the Kroger 250. Matt Crafton, Rick Crawford, Ken Schrader and Eric Darnell followed in the top five.
|