Compton, Craven talk about Darlington wreck

CONCORD, N.C. -- Sometimes, when unfortunate things happen during a race, the battle itself can turn into a war of words afterwards.

Sometimes -- but not the case this time.

			Stacy Compton

When Steve Park was leading the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 at Darlington Raceway last Sunday, he was making quite a few statements at 160 mph. One was that he was indeed back in the No. 1 Pennzoil Chevrolet after a six-month recovery to heal from a brain contusion suffered at the same track last September.

The other, and probably most importantly, was that he was healthy enough to not only race, but to wage war on the asphalt jungle and still be competitive.

However, on lap 38 of the 293-lap race, Park was going to the inside of Stacy Compton in the No. 14 Conseco Pontiac through Turns 3 and 4 just to about to put him a lap down, when the cars got together.

Park went into the outside wall in Turn 4 crunching his car out of contention.

When the unfortunate incident occurred, it also claimed the car of pole sitter Ricky Craven. Craven was running second behind Park and had nowhere to go as the drama unfolded in front of him.

He barreled into Compton, tearing up the nose of the No. 32 Tide Ford.

Interviews of Park and Craven immediately after the wreck seemed to point out, to some, that Compton was at fault for the contact. Thus, he had taken Park and Craven out of contention.

Not the case, according to comments from Compton and Craven on Tuesday.

"I had no idea that I was being blamed for anything until after the race," Compton said. "I was disappointed that we got caught up in it. I was also disappointed that Steve and Ricky got caught up, too.

"Like I said in my post-race interviews, I motioned Steve to the bottom of the track and I went to the top feeling like I gave him plenty of room. I thought when he got in there that the car got away from him a little and he chased it up the track and I was there.

"I didn't have a clue, until on the way home, that anybody was blaming me. I had 17 messages after the race of people calling and saying they couldn't believe I was getting blamed for the wreck. I didn't have a clue what they were talking about.

"Heck, people were coming up to me afterwards saying that Steve Park shouldn't be back in a race car. Look, there's nothing wrong with Steve Park and he deserves to be in a race car as much as anybody else does.

"It was just Darlington and we ran out of real estate."

After watching some replays and commentary regarding the wreck, Compton said he was upset that he was receiving blame.

"I'm as big a Steve Park fan as anyone," Compton said. "It bothered me that Ricky initially said that I wasn't yielding to the leaders. I was, I moved to the top of the track and gave them the bottom lane.

"I think Ricky's comments have changed now that he's seen it some more. Hey, that's the heat of the moment. I think a little of it was blown out of proportion because it was Steve's return.

"I didn't feel like it was my fault and I didn't feel like it was Steve's fault. I just felt like it was a racing incident at Darlington"

			Ricky Craven

On Sunday, Craven said, "Steve got together with the lap car (Compton) who didn't give him any consideration, really," Two days later, Craven said that it was more of a case of racing at Darlington than anything else.

"You ask me that question right after the race and I'm going to be frustrated," Craven said. "But now, after reflecting on it and I have to say it is really, really a shame. I was so happy that Steve was back. By lap 20 of that race, he had put an exclamation on his return.

"As far as the wreck, I feel the same as Stacy and Steve do. I wish it wouldn't have happened because it's not fair for Steve and Stacy. I made reference to lap cars and so did Steve after the wreck.

"After watching it, I believe it was more of a product of 45-lap tires and Darlington than anything else. What happened on Sunday was a typical Darlington situation."

Craven said the incident has less to do with Compton than it does the fact they were racing at the track too tough to tame. The respect factor the track commands from drivers also carries over into how drivers feel about each other, as well.

"I think the world of Steve Park and I think the world of Stacy Compton," Craven said. "I don't think it would be appropriate to single out either one of those guys for being at fault.

"It was just a Darlington deal. I don't think it's fair to push any of this on Stacy Compton and make him a scapegoat. He was just trying to do the right thing.

"I know one thing; we're all going to be racing together for a long time. That one incident doesn't mean that much at this point. It's over and done with.

"Let's just head to Bristol and have fun."