Ricky Craven says he doesn't know what the future will bring. Credit: Autostock

Craven hits home track with mixed emotions

Maine native to run Tide ride one last time this weekend

LOUDON, N.H. -- Ricky Craven has mixed emotions about driving at his beloved New Hampshire International Speedway this weekend.

Sure, the Maine native will have fun getting behind the wheel of Morgan-Dollar Motorsports No. 47 Chevrolet truck. And Sunday's Sylvania 300, once the green flag drops, should be a good time, too.

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But this will be Craven's last appearance in the PPI Motorsports Nextel Cup car. Craven and owner Cal Wells announced in July they would part ways, and Craven got out of the car two races ago.

Wells and Craven, however, decided to make one more go of it at Craven's "hometown" track. Craven appreciates the opportunity to race in front of the home folks, but he wonders if it is the smartest thing to do.

"Mixed emotions, honestly," Craven said. "First of all, the idea of racing the Tide car again is a bit difficult. On one hand it is a great opportunity for me to say thanks and to end the association at a place that is important and special in front of a group of people that have been as loyal and supportive as any can be.

"On the flip side, I have circled the wagon on whether this makes sense or not on whether I should be doing this. Because certainly, change is difficult and maybe just making a clean break and letting Cal continue with his objectives would make more sense, and letting me focus on 2005."

Wells has already hired Craven's replacement, and Bobby Hamilton Jr. has spent time in the No. 32 car getting prepared for 2005. Craven, meanwhile, doesn't have a job for next year.

Craven has had a tough go of it this year in the Nextel Cup Series. Credit: Autostock

But Craven and Wells decided one final run at New Hampshire would do more good than harm.

"It doesn't always have to end ugly, and this is a good opportunity for us to finish it at a place that has been special to me," Craven said. "Understand that the first three years of racing with the Tide team were very, very good to me. I think we had 20-something top-10s, 10 top-fives and a couple of wins. It's just that it's a performance business, and we had a very disappointing first half of this year.

"I do like the idea of finishing it the right way or at least having the opportunity to say thanks, and that's what my intention is. To go to New Hampshire and race a Craftsman Truck and have a lot of fun doing it and racing with a terrific group of drivers in a very legitimate series, and then on Sunday, basically tipping my hat to the fans of New England and saying thanks for all the support in particularly the three-and-a-half years that I have raced with this team."

Craven scored his only two Cup victories in the No. 32, winning at Martinsville two years ago and beating Kurt Busch in a thrilling duel at Darlington last year.

This season, however, has been nothing but bad luck and disappointment. Craven finished 23rd in the Daytona 500, and it went downhill from there.

Eight DNFs and 12 other finishes off the lead lap later, Craven was gone.

Now on the sidelines, Craven wants to stay in Nextel Cup, for he considers himself a Cup-worthy driver.

"The fact that we were only one of however many drivers and teams that won last year -- we were one of them," Craven said. "I have worked a long time to get to this point, and I still enjoy the sport and I still have a passion to compete and I just don't feel like the game is over.

"I feel like there are a few innings left to play."

When Craven and Wells first announced they were splitting, Craven said he only wanted to compete in Nextel Cup. Two months later, Craven seems to be backing off from that position.

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"The Busch Series or the Craftsman Truck Series are great alternatives," Craven said. "But I just don't know if that is something that I am interested in doing. I've never raced in (the Craftsman Truck Series), and from the outside looking in, it looks like it could be a lot of fun.

"What it comes down to is the opportunities that I have or don't have in the next few months. There have already been discussions with some teams. It's just that I really don't know what I want to do, and it is so unfair for me to speculate because I really need to know what I want to do as opposed to what is available or what I can do."

Maybe after this weekend's races at NHIS, Craven will have a different opinion.

"It's a decision that I'll make in the next few months as to what I am going to do in 2005," Craven said. "I am looking forward to the race, and I have watched several NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events, and the series itself is full of excitement.

"It's got a lot of talent, and as I said earlier, it is legitimate. It is a very legitimate series that I think could be enjoyable. Being able to race in the series this weekend will help me answer (those) questions."