Craven may be washed out of Tide ride

The end of Ricky Craven’s run as driver of the No. 32 Tide Chevrolet in the NASCAR Nextel Cup ranks could be imminent.

According to reports Tuesday in the Charlotte (N.C.) Observer and its Web site, ThatsRacin.com, PPI Motorsports is set to put the driver it already has signed to run the car next year, Bobby Hamilton Jr., in the Tide ride for this Sunday night’s race at Fontana, Calif.

The decision to leave the car before the end of the 2004 season was Craven’s, according to the report.

The move is contingent on gaining approval for the driver switch from PPI’s sponsor, Procter & Gamble.

Hamilton signed with PPI Motorsports for the 2005 season on July 28, and became available to drive full time for the team this year when he was released from his Busch Series ride in August.

PPI Motorsports has made no comment on the report.

Craven, a native of Newburgh, has a pair of victories with PPI, in 2001 at Martinsville, Va., and last year at Darlington, S.C. But he has struggled this year, ranking 34th in points and with no top-10 finishes. Last Saturday night, Craven finished 34th in the Sharpie 500 at Bristol, Tenn.