If PPI Motorsports Team owner Cal Wells III has his way, Newburgh’s Ricky Craven will have a Winston Cup series teammate next season.

Craven, driving the Tide Ford, is currently 14th in points. That is best among single-car teams.

Wells and the PPI Motorsports Team had two drivers a year ago but Andy Houston struggled, compiling just one top 10 finish in 18 races in his McDonald’s Ford, and he was released from the team. McDonalds ended its sponsorship.

Wells is currently negotiating with three sponsors while also talking to officials at General Motors who would like him to bring his team over to Pontiac. GM initiated the negotiations.

Landing another primary sponsor would enable Wells to supply Craven with a teammate. The talks have been extensive but nothing has been finalized.

“The biggest reason we’d like to add a team is economical,” said Wells. “Having a two-car team is critical to our team’s growth and strength within NASCAR. We would have more [financial and technical] support, which is necessary to be a championship level organization. That’s what we want to be. Programs would evolve. We would become far more robust.”

He said they still have the “infrastructure and management” in place for a second team which was left over from a year ago.

Having a second team would also supply them with seven more testing periods as allowed under NASCAR guidelines.

The teams would share data they obtain from the tests.

“A second team would not only improve the Tide car, and would be a fantastic springboard to becoming a regular top 10 contender.”

The situation with General Motors is up in the air.

The successful Joe Gibbs Racing team, which has the top two Pontiac drivers in the points standings in seventh-place Tony Stewart and 22nd-place Bobby Labonte, is contemplating making the switch to Chevrolets next season. GM executives reportedly want five reliable teams under contract or they will ditch the Pontiacs.

Pontiac currently has five teams. The other three drivers are Johnny Benson, Ken Schrader and Stacy Compton.

“It’s very, very pleasing to be sought after. That’s a feather in our caps. But it’s too early to make a decision,” said Wells. “We will do what is best for Tide.”

Wells has been pleased with the team’s progress but says “the points don’t indicate how well Ricky has driven and how well the team has performed.”

Accidents at Darlington Raceway (S.C.) and California Speedway, a flat tire at Michigan International Speedway and a pit miscue in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway last Saturday night have cost Craven several positions.

A loose lug nut forced him to return to the pits for an unscheduled pit stop Saturday that put him a lap down and turned a potential top-15 finish into a 23rd.

Craven already has five top-10 finishes and 12 top-20 finishes already this season compared with seven top-10s and 13 top-20s all of last season.

There are still 19 races remaining.

“The most significant improvement we’ve seen this year is our ability to unload relatively quickly. We’ve had good, confident pit stops. And Ricky has been a masterful driver,” said Wells.

Wells and Craven would like to remain in the top 15 and make a visit or two to Victory Lane this season.

They have already made an impact but feel the best is yet to come.

Especially if they can land another top sponsor and a second team.

Wells, Craven and the Tide Ford team, with two poles already this season, will run the Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway (Ill.) Sunday afternoon.