Newburgh’s Ricky Craven will be named the driver of the No. 50 Craftsman Truck Series Ford for Jack Roush Racing this morning at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, according to published reports in the ThatsRacin.com. and jayski.com Web sites.

Craven will replace Jon Wood in the unsponsored truck and he will be joined on the Roush team by American Speed Association racer Todd Kluever, who was involved in Roush’s “Gong Show” (driving) tryouts and will take over Carl Edwards’ ride in the Superchips No. 99 Ford.

Edwards, who is currently fourth in points, is also driving in the Nextel Cup series for Roush and Wood, who is 14th, will be driving in the Busch series next year.

Craven wouldn’t confirm or deny the reports Thursday but did say he was en route to Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Craven began the season in the Tide No. 32 Chevy in the Nextel Cup series but after a dismal start piggybacked a poor finish to the 2003 season, Craven and PPI Motorsports owner Cal Wells III decided to part ways in July.

Still, Craven was the only driver from a single-car team to win races during his 31/2-year association with Tide as he won at Martinsville in 2001 and at Darlington last season.

The 1995 Nextel Cup Rookie of the Year made his truck series debut at the Sylvania 200 at New Hampshire International Speedway in September and finished 31st when he wrecked the truck on lap 82 while trying to move into third place. He started ninth.

“I had more fun today than I had all year,” said Craven after the race. “I would love the opportunity to race some NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races in the future but I have some unfinished business on the Nextel Cup side.”

The 38-year-old Craven has run 278 Nextel Cup races with 17 top-fives and 41 top-10s including his two trips to Victory Lane. He had 10 of those top-fives and 24 of those top-10s in 133 races for Tide/PPI Motorsports.

He said he wanted to land a ride with an established and competitive Nextel Cup team but also said he wouldn’t mind racing in the truck or Busch series “if I felt that it would somehow lead me back to a competitive Nextel Cup ride sooner than later.”

Roush has a stable of four Nextel Cup teams with Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle.

Busch, Martin and Kenseth were among the 10 drivers who qualified for the 10-race championship chase. Only the top 10 drivers in points after the first 26 races earned the right to vie for the title.

Martin has announced his plans to retire after next season.

Upon learning of Craven’s decision to leave PPI Motorsports in July, Roush said, “Craven is on my short list of people I think can do a nice job in these [Nextel Cup] cars.”

There are several former Nextel Cup regulars in the truck series this season including Bobby Hamilton, Johnny Benson, Steve Park, Mike Skinner and Ted Musgrave.

The 2005 Craftsman Truck Series schedule features 25 races, including 16 in the same cities that host Nextel Cup races the same weekends.

The schedule begins Feb. 18 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, the same weekend as the season-opening Daytona 500.