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BUSCH: Fontana: Stacy Compton race notes

Caution flag foils strong Compton run in California. Fontana, CA (April 28, 2003) - For the third straight race Stacy Compton was a contender for his first NASCAR Busch Series win only to have circumstances beyond his control foil his day. In ...

Edited: Apr 16, 2008, 12:40 AM

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Caution flag foils strong Compton run in California.

Fontana, CA (April 28, 2003) - For the third straight race Stacy Compton was a contender for his first NASCAR Busch Series win only to have circumstances beyond his control foil his day. In Fontana on Saturday Compton started in 5th, ran the entire first half of the race in the top five, and even passed pole sitter Kevin Harvick to demonstrate how strong his car was and to lead a lap.

Compton and several other front-runners chose to take tires on the race's second caution flag and to forgo any further stops until they were within their fuel window to finish the race. Many other cars chose to come in during the races third and fourth caution periods to top off with fuel. Compton's strategy forced him to pit under green flag conditions on lap 100 and to run back through the field while he waited for competitors running a lap ahead of him to make their final pit stop. On lap 112, as Compton was passing Stanton Barrett's #60 car, Barrett got loose, tapping Compton and forcing the race's final caution flag a mere 3 laps before most of the cars ahead of him in the running order were forced to pit under green for fuel.

Stated a disappointed Compton after the race, "It's another tough break for this team. If that last caution had happened 3 to 5 laps later, all those cars on a different pit strategy would have had to come in for fuel, placing us back in the top 5 for a run to the finish. I don't know if we had anything for (race winner Matt) Kenseth, but I sure would have liked to find out. Our car was extremely strong again this weekend and, if we keep fielding fast cars like we have in the month of April, I know that we will get the finishes we deserve."

Compton finished the race in 21st place mired one lap down to the leaders. The finish moved him back up to 18th place in the season points standings.

-stm-

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