Foyt releases Compton, taps Wallace

LONG POND, Pa. -- What was a two-car deal for the Brickyard 400 has become a two-race Winston Cup deal for Mike Wallace.

	Stacy Compton Credit: Autostock

A.J. Foyt initiated the latest abrupt change of direction in his career as a car owner earlier this week when he informed Stacy Compton that he had been released as the pilot of the No. 14 Conseco Pontiac.

The veteran Wallace said he would replace Compton for two races, beginning with this weekend's Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway. Wallace participated in a two-day test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway earlier this week and said he was told Friday morning he would drive at Pocono as well.

Wallace will join his older brother, Rusty, and his younger brother, Kenny, in the Aug. 4 Brickyard 400.

"Originally it was just a deal for two cars at the Brickyard, and now it's for here and there," Wallace said. "I don't know anything more at this point or whether it will continue past the Brickyard and become a race to race situation."

Wallace will be the sixth driver that Foyt has used in his Winston Cup cars in the last two-and-a-half seasons, following Mike Bliss, Dick Trickle, Rick Mast, Ron Hornaday and Compton.

"All I can do, as a driver, is go in there and do the very best job that I possibly can do," Wallace said. "I'm not going to be able to make magic there. I'm not going to be able to take the car and make it win a race tomorrow (though) I hope I'd have the capability.

"I'm not sure what they're looking for except to make a solid effort, run hard all day long and where the cards fall is where they'll fall. In my situation it beats cutting the grass, or sitting at home on Sunday."

	Mike Wallace

Compton, who has raced full seasons so far in Busch and Winston Cup, confirmed Wednesday that he had received a letter informing him of his release from Foyt on Monday, when he returned home from last weekend's New England 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway.

Through the first 19 races of the season, Compton is 36th in points after he missed one race. His best finishes were a pair of 18ths, at Daytona and Martinsville and he had four DNFs. The season was a sharp contrast to a year ago at the same point, when Compton had a Bud Pole Award at Talladega and a top-10 finish in the Daytona 500.

Compton is 11th in the Busch Series standings, driving the No. 59 Kingsford Chevrolet for ST Motorsports.

Wallace has mixed his season between NASCAR's Winston Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series, with owners Andy Petree, MBV Motorsports, Fred Biagi and Ken Schrader.

He said he had no definite races scheduled for the rest of the season in Petree's No. 33 car, and that he had an understanding with the owner that he could pursue other work.

"I'm working on some opportunities for a Busch car and some other things," Wallace said, "and this can only enhance that.

"This is kind of a relaxed situation, for me. They have no commitments to me and I have no commitment to them. We're racing week to week and it's kind of a performance deal. You run good, maybe you run next week and if you don't, they'll put somebody else in.

"I've got my Busch Grand National car to run some more and we'll just try to make the most of this weekend."