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Compton to join Winston Cup series

Stacy Compton has signed up to drive for Melling Racing in next season's Winston Cup

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series star becomes the sixth 2000 Rookie of the Year hopeful to join the series.

A marketer of smokeless tobacco products, Conwood, whose Kodiak brand has sponsored the No. 41 Chevrolets of Larry Hedrick Motorsports for several years, will sponsor Compton's No. 9 Taurus.

'This is a tremendous opportunity,' Compton said.

'I wouldn't have left a truck team contending for a championship just to drive in Winston Cup.

'With Mark Melling and Conwood, I have an owner and a sponsor that have won championships, so I know we are focused on the same goal.'

Compton is confident he can be successful, but expects a tough challenge ahead of him.

'We have a lot of work ahead of us,' said Compton, who finished fourth in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 1999.

'We're building new cars right now, and as soon as we get a few 2000 cars built we're going testing.

'We're also going to be in the wind tunnel as much as possible.

'We're going to do what it takes to be competitive. It may not happen overnight, but with each lap we're going to improve.'

Compton competed in the final four races of 1999 with the Melling team after completing his Truck Series season.

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