1997-1999
In 1997, Compton signed up with a new team, Impact Motorsports, to run the #86 Valvoline Ford F-150 for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year Award. During his initial Truck Series season, Compton had three top-five finishes and a 13th place finish in points, but fell well short of the top rookie award. For 1998, R.C. Cola replaced Valvoline as sponsor. In the third race of the season, at Phoenix International Raceway, Compton captured his first career pole position, and finished in third place during the race event. The next week at Portland Speedway, Compton led all but two laps and won his first Craftsman Truck Series race. He got another win later that year at Heartland Park Topeka. He finished seventh in points that year and was named the Most Popular Driver. Compton had high hopes for 1999 as Impact switched to Dodge Rams and getting a teammate in Randy Tolsma, but he was unable to visit victory lane that year, although he did improve to 4th in points. Late that season, Compton began running some Winston Cup races for Melling Racing. Soon afterwards, Melling announced that Compton would pilot their #9 Kodiak Ford Taurus in the Winston Cup Series in 2000.
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