LOUDON, N.H. – Sunday’s New England 300 Winston Cup race will be the 528th for Mike Beam as a crew chief.

The Hickory, N.C., native, who is the crew chief for Newburgh native Ricky Craven’s Tide Ford No. 32, has worked with 13 different drivers dating back to 1981 including Richard and Kyle Petty, Michael Waltrip, Bill Elliott and Sterling Marlin, said he is having the time of his life with Craven, PPI Motorsports Team owner Cal Wells III and the Tide team.

“No doubt about it, this is the best time I’ve ever had,” said Beam. “I had a great relationship with (legendary owner Junior Johnson) so it didn’t matter who drove the car. Cal reminds me of Junior because no matter what the budget is, if we run out of money, he’ll dig up some more. Cal gives us everything we need to work with. It’s great to work with people like that.”

He feels the same about Craven.

“Ricky is so dedicated and such a nice guy to work with. We both have great families and we share and enjoy that [aspect of our lives],” added Beam, who sees a bright future for the team.

“I’m definitely happy with the team. The next 12 months will be very critical for us. The last 18 months have been very critical for us. The team is getting better,” said Beam. “We’ve got to work on the pit crew. But we’re just a second-year team and we have a lot of potential. The good thing is we’re going in the right direction.”

The team goal of a top-15 finish in points – they are currently 13th – is “very realistic” according to Beam.

“We’ve overachieved in some ways. We’ve had some things happen to us that shouldn’t have happened but there are a lot of good cars behind us. Tide is a wonderful sponsor. There are a lot of good things coming. There are a lot of big things happening over the next eight months. I wish I was 15 years younger. It’s really exciting,” said Beam.

He said the team has exceptional chemistry and is joked that he is the old man among Wells, Craven and race engineer Roy McAuley.

“I’m the oldest and I’m just about burned up. Luckily, they’ve got some youth and energy,” chuckled the 47-year-old Beam. “Those guys do such a great job. I just to help direct them and be there for them.”

“He’s the best crew chief I’ve raced with,” said Craven. “He’s very, very intense about racing but relaxed in other ways.”

Beam has three victories and 146 Top 10s to his credit so far. Two wins were with Elliott and the other was with Craven at Martinsville last season.

He said it has been a “long, tough journey” for the team but added that “we don’t have as far to go to get where we need to be” based on their progress.

Augusta man works for Hendrick

Augusta’s Scott Maxim is the director of track support for Rick Hendrick Motorsports and the head of the engine program.

Two of their drivers, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, are currently third and fourth in points.

“We have six teams, four on the Cup side and two on the Busch [Grand National side] side,” said Maxim. “I work with the drivers, crew chiefs and engine tuners. I have good people around me. They are all independent for each team but we all work together. I’m there for additional support.”

He has been with Hendrick Motorsports for six years and used to work with Craven.

“It’s a challenging role. There’s a lot of competition. But I like that,” said Maxim.

He acknowledged they are having a good year but said, “everything comes a little hard. We’re closing in on where we need to be, which is leading.”

In addition to Johnson and Gordon, Joe Nemechek and Terry Labonte are also driving for the team.