Craven claims first top-five finish since ’97 Newburgh driver finishes fifth after starting 41st

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. – Maine’s Ricky Craven turned in one of the best finishes of his NASCAR career when he placed fifth in Monday’s Dura Lube 400.

Craven, driver of the No. 32 Ford, started 41st in the 43-car field and moved up to 18th Sunday before rain suspended the race to Monday.

Craven credited his team for his top-five finish.

“I think what we did was give ourselves some hope, we know we’ve got a chance,” Craven told Turner Sports Interactive. “The four guys that finished in front of me have all won, they’re all contenders, and that’s what we need to do. We need to establish ourselves as contenders and we need to do that right there week after week and we’re gonna win.”

Craven, in his second race for the team owned by Cal Wells, battled to the 11th spot after 100 laps and was in the top 10 after 120 laps. He then fought his way to third on lap 200, but fell back to ninth 80 laps later.

With 97 laps remaining on the 393-lap event on the 1.017-mile track, Craven moved up to seventh and picked up two more spots to finish fifth.

“We just had a very legitimate day all day,” said Craven, a Newburgh native. “We ran good on the track, we had good pit stops and I just feel like we just worked the hell out of the other drivers.”

Craven, who did not compete on a full-time basis in NASCAR last season, is pleased to be back on track.

“I’m just thankful that Cal Wells and [crew chief] Mike Beam gave me the opportunity to do this. They got me back on track and I couldn’t be happier,” Craven said.

Craven earned $50,160 for the fifth-place finish. Craven earned four top-five finishes in 1997, including a third place at the Daytona 500.