Editor’s note: The BDN’s Jack Gifford caught up with Ricky Craven last week in California, where he was honing his road-course skills for this weekend’s Sonoma 300. Craven, a Newburgh native, took time from his rigorous Winston Cup schedule to discuss the rookie points’ race.

Gifford: How old were you when you saw your first NASCAR event and said, “Hey, I can do that!”?

Craven: I don’t know exactly. It was at an early age. Like many people in the northeast, my first exposure was through television.

Gifford: Do you have recurring dreams about Unity Raceway and a guy named Dave “Boss Hogg” Sinclair?

Craven: I have a lot of fond memories of the beginning of my racing career and competing against several drivers like Dave Sinclair. They were all tough, competitive race drivers.

Gifford: If the Busch Grand National Series had gone to the V8s say, five years ago, would you have placed a few more years under your belt there before making the jump to the Winston Cup?

Craven: Probably not. My focus in Busch Grand National was to adapt to the cars and the tracks. The engines would have helped, but not enough to spent extra time there.

Gifford: For as long as you race, will you continue to own your own car?

Craven: Not necessarily, but I feel I’ll always have Ricky Craven Motorsports. Right now, it’s in Busch Grand National, and for the time being, I intend on keeping it there.

Gifford: Whose answering machine called whose answering machine to give you the Kodiak ride?

Craven: Normally, it’s a combination of “we need you” and “you need us.” First was an agreement between Larry Hdrick and Ricky Craven. I believe the combination was enough to attract the Kodiak sponsorship.

Gifford: You’ve mentioned the stamina required to compete in 500-mile races. What physical-conditioning program do you maintain?

Craven: A lot like other athletes. We have workout equipment at Ricky Craven Motorsports, and my wife and I also have joined a health club. But also, eight races so far in this season, and all the testing we’ve been doing week after week have been a nig help in my conditioning.

And, of course, proper diet is essential.

Gifford: If the Sonoma and Watkins Glen road courses are omitted in Winston Cup, should the race schedules change to include the rumored Texas super track?

Craven: I think eventually they will. I think the sport will eventually demand it, and others, too, like Los Angeles and Chicago and other areas of the United States.

Gifford: With your roots in New England short tracks, are you more mentally prepared for the Martinsville and Bristols than perhaps the Talledegas and Poconos of the circuit?

Craven: I’d say “yes,” but the reality is that the majority of the drivers have come up to the circuit the same way. So while I may have a little more comfort on some of those kinds of tracks, I really don’t have an advantage.

Gifford: Do you call your mother from every race?

Craven: No, not every race, but I talk to her every week.

Gifford: Winston Cup purses are pushing ticket prices higher now than most other sports. Are fans crazed enough to slap down their last bucks without concern, or will they rebel?

Craven: The sport is very strong right now, and while I can’t get into every fan’s mind, I’d have to say “yes.” Every race is now sold out well in advance.

Gifford: Does Dale Earnhardt deserve the nickname “The Intimidator”?

Craven: Ask me in five years!

Gifford: You’ve been very patient to date. Will there soon come a race when you will just “kick the thrusters in” for a top five finish?

Craven: It’s not really a matter of patience. It’s a matter of understanding the equipment better. If the opportunity exists, then, of course, we’ll go for it, but aggression sometimes leads to trouble. If the time is right, yes, we’ll take that chance.

Gifford: What do you do to relax when the rigors of NASCAR allow it?

Craven: They haven’t allowed it. Really, the schedule is so demanding, there just has hardly been any time lately. Holidays or weekends off are nice; that way I can spend more time with my family, and, of course, the time it takes to travel to California, Phoenix, or Daytona also gives me some time to spend with the family.

Gifford: You’ve seen many of the drivers still coming up here in Maine. Who would you expect to the next “young lion” from the northeast?

Craven: A lot of drivers just have not been recognized. A lot of my moving up was Ricky Craven’s idea. The decision is theirs, like it was mine. The forefront right now probably is Andy Santerre.

Gifford: “Smilin’ Stan” Meserve beams at the mere mention of your name. Is he a guru to Ricky Craven?

Craven: No question. He’s had a big impact on my career. As a child, I always admired him for his ability, not only his driving ability, but his personality. He still receives phone calls from Rricky Craven, (who’s) asking advice or just wanting to talk.

Gifford: Does Kodiak expect you to have an occasional “pinch between yer cheek ‘n gums”?

Craven: No, they never have. They are some of the finest people I have ever worked with. They have never asked for that kind of pressure, and I know they won’t.

Gifford: How many Grand National races have you committed to in ’95?

Craven: Eight.

Gifford: You’ve been relatively injury-free in your career. Do you think of the danger of the sport often?

Craven: There are times when we are reminded of the dangers. I am not really conscious of it when I am competing.

Gifford: Is Waddell Wilson God?

Craven: No, but he could crew chief God’s race car.

Gifford: Will you correct any writer or announcer who lists you as being from New Hampshire, Charlotte, or wherever, instead of Newburgh?

Craven: Absolutely! It’s taken 14 years to get to Winston Cup, and I’m on a crusade for the whole world to know that I got here from Newburgh, Maine.

Ricky Craven will compete in the Busch Grand National North race schedule for July at New Hampshire International Speedway.