Compton to field Late Models for two teens

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Busch Series driver Stacy Compton will field a pair of NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Late Model Stock Cars this year. The cars will compete weekly at separate Virginia tracks where Compton, 38, established his own career more than a decade ago.

Stacy Compton

Steven Berry, 17 of Huddleston, Va., and Adam Barker, 19, of Altavista, Va., both applied for their 2006 NASCAR licenses on March 21.

Both competed in the Limited Sportsman division at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va., in 2005 and finished in the top-10 in track points.

Berry will race exclusively at Motor Mile Speedway, while Barker will race exclusively at South Boston Speedway.

"Both of them have their heads on straight and they know what they want to do. They want to go racing," Compton said. "The biggest reason, though, is I think they have as much raw talent as anyone I've seen in a long, long time. I've been watching them for a couple of years from go-karts to Limited Sportsman.

"I was going to do one team, but when it came down to it, I couldn't cut either one. So we decided to do one at South Boston and one at Motor Mile. Hopefully we can open some doors with them and get these guys going down the career road."

Compton's team, officially known as Turn One Racing LLC, is being guided by General Manager Herb Bailey, who worked with Compton in Late Model Stock Cars, as well as Steve Dalton who will crew chief Barker's car.