What do Ricky Craven and Jimmy Howard have in common? Both have captured the hearts of Mainers and both are moving on. The major difference between the two? One’s career may be coming to an end and the other one’s is just beginning.

Newburgh native Craven’s auto racing career is in jeopardy.

In the wake of his decision to part ways with Roush Racing after finishing this season in the Craftsman Truck Series, he might not ever get a chance to return to the Nextel Cup series.

If a driver can’t find a ride in the Nextel Cup series, he settles for a ride in the Busch or Truck Series and hopes to run well enough to prove worthy of another Cup ride.

That appeared to be the direction the 39-year-old Craven was headed.

He had seven top-10 finishes through his first eight races and was second in points.

Then everything fell apart.

He hasn’t finished higher than 13th in the last nine races. He is 14th in points.

Did his exclusion from consideration for the No. 6 Cup ride next year trigger his demise? Why has he had three crew chiefs? Did Roush decide to focus his attention on rookie Todd Kluever after deciding Craven wouldn’t fill Mark Martin’s Cup ride?

Craven said it was nothing more than an amicable parting of the ways.

Craven won’t talk about the specifics of the situation. He doesn’t want to burn any bridges. It was the same way when he and Cal Wells III split after their 3 1/2-year association with PPI Motorsports and the Tide No. 32 Nextel Cup ride.

Craven was 34th in points when he left PPI Motorsports last July and his replacement, Bobby Hamilton Jr., is currently 38th with 14 finishes of 30th or worse among his 21 races.

His father, Bobby Hamilton Sr., has advised his son to bolt the No. 32.

If he does, that could pave the way for Craven’s return to the No. 32 next year.

Tide has one year left (2006) on its deal with PPI Motorsports. Craven made a lot of friends in the Tide camp thanks to his two wins and easy-going personality.

I asked Wells in July if he would ever consider working with Craven again and he said “Ricky’s a good man. He’s a good friend.”

It could be a good move for both if Wells returns to Ford and leases Robert Yates engines like they did when he finished a career-best 15th in Nextel Cup points in 2002.

Hamilton Jr. drives a Chevy with Richard Childress engines.

As for former University of Maine All-American goalie Jimmy Howard, it was time for him to join the pro ranks.

The second-round draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings has nothing more to prove in college.

He set virtually every Maine goaltending record, including shutouts (15).

Detroit’s top two goalies, Manny Legace and Chris Osgood, are both 32.

The 21-year-old Howard, an All-American two years ago, is a can’t-miss NHL goalie.

He’ll pay his dues and develop in the AHL for Grand Rapids until it’s his time to strap on the pads for the Red Wings.

The signing bonus in the vicinity of $500,000 was a nice incentive, and by passing up his senior year, he also earned some points with the Red Wings brass.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231, 1-800-310-8600 or by email at lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.