LOUDON, N.H. – His focus was on the thatlook.com 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway.

But Newburgh’s Ricky Craven, who earned the No. 5 starting spot in his Midwest Transit Chevy Monte Carlo and finished 17th, was also fully aware of the battle facing University of Maine men’s hockey coach Shawn Walsh, who was recently diagnosed with kidney cancer that has also spread to his lungs and lymph nodes.

Walsh and Craven have known each other for several years and Walsh has participated in Craven’s charity snowmobile ride in Greenville.

“When you consider how much happiness he has brought to the people in the state of Maine and his ability to lead people, it’s time for us to cheer for him and support him in a battle of different sorts,” said Craven. “Attitude means a lot in life and he’s got a great attitude. I just know he’s going to be OK. He’ll come out of this.

“But I want him to know I’ve been thinking about him since I heard the news. I look forward to the opportunity to see him as soon as we can. We’re all pulling for him.”

Craven called Walsh a “very generous individual.”

“He has contributed some wonderful prizes to our charity ride that could have gone other places,” said Craven. “I like his style, I like what he represents, and he’s been awfully good for the state of Maine.”

Scarborough Busch North series driver Kelly Moore, a recent cancer survivor, said a positive attitude will be one of Walsh’s best allies.

“He’s got to be positive, he’s got to have confidence in his doctors and he’s got to do everything they tell him to do,” said Moore. “Nobody can explain to you what to expect.”

Craven hopes to sign deal

Craven is hoping to sign a four-race sponsorship contract, perhaps as soon as today.

“I believe it is going to happen, but it hasn’t been signed yet,” said Craven, whose Midwest Transit Co. team doesn’t have a primary sponsor. “It is with a technology company. It’s exciting. I’ve enjoyed the stock market the last 10 years, primarily the tech stocks. So I’m familiar with a lot of them.”

“It’ll be a company I’ll have fun representing,” added Craven, who preferred not to mention the company because he hasn’t signed the contract yet.

Safety concerns Santerre, Craven

In the wake of Kenny Irwin’s death in a practice lap accident on Friday, two months after Adam Petty died in a similar practice accident at New Hampshire International Speedway, Busch Grand National driver Andy Santerre of Cherryfield and Craven maintained that NHIS is a safe track, but NASCAR should consider improving safety at all of the tracks.

“Obviously, it needs to be looked at. They need to check the safety equipment. I think they’ll need to do something that keeps the drivers’ compartments a little safer, something to keep the head from going forward. I don’t know,” said Santerre.

“We’ve raced here for 10 years and never had a problem and now there has been two in a row. I know Bob and Gary Bahre keep up with the latest technology and and I know they’ll be working hard,” said Santerre, referring to the Bahre family that owns the track.

“It’s the type of situation you hope you never have to deal with again,” said Craven. “Although we’re aware of the risk, as drivers we never consider it. Then, when it happens, we aren’t prepared for it.”

Craven added, “This isn’t an unsafe race track. But when there is a mechanical problem because of a cut tire or a stuck throttle and the driver loses control of the car, it becomes a dangerous sport. There are things we could address to make race tracks safer everywhere.”

How about padding the walls with something like styrofoam?

“I’d like to see something like that,” said Craven.

Santerre said, “That wouldn’t be a bad idea. I think they’ll be looking into that.”