Compton knew he had a horse underneath him heading into qualifying Saturday afternoon after practice on Friday night. He laid down a blistering fast lap at a speed of 158.533 mph and locked in the second starting position.
Once the green flag dropped Compton went in to turn one battling for the lead, but eventually settled in to the second spot. Crew Chief Jeff Hensley coached Compton to not be too aggressive in the opening laps. "We will get them in time," he said.
"It is a little tight getting in the corner and through the center," Compton radioed in while under the first caution on lap five.
Compton was still running second when the second caution of the night waved on lap 37 for debris. Hensley made the call to bring the No. 4 BobFrensley.Com Dodge down pit road for service. The Dodge Racing Team jumped into action changed all four tires, added fuel and went up two rounds on the track bar before they sent Compton on his way. He restarted ninth on lap 41.
It didn’t take Compton long to make his way back through the field. By lap 43 he was running sixth. Then on lap 44 a multi-truck wreck transpired bringing out another caution. Compton stayed out and restarted fifth.
"It is pretty tight now," he said on lap 49. A spin on the front stretch brought out another caution just six laps later. Hensley brought the No. 4 Dodge down pit road.
The Dodge Racing Team leaped over the wall changed two right side tires, added fuel and went back down on the track bar before they sent Compton back out in 16th position.
Another caution waved 10 laps later with Compton in 16th. Several of the leaders ahead of Compton elected to hit pit road, but the No. 4 Dodge Ram stayed out and assumed the lead of the race.
For the next 37 laps Compton displayed his stellar driving skills as he held off a charging Toyota truck and continued to lead.
The sixth caution waved on lap 115 for debris. "We have to pit because we do not have enough fuel to finish the race," said Hensley. Compton, along with all the lead trucks, hit pit road for fuel. The Dodge Racing Team changed left side tires and added one can of fuel. During the stop an air hose got tangled on pit road and caused Compton to lose positions. He restarted eighth.
"It is tight behind traffic," Compton said just after the restart on lap 118.
He was able to gain one more position and finish seventh before the checkered flag fell at the end of the race. It was the team’s fourth top-10 this season.
