Newburgh’s Ricky Craven admits he is stubborn.

But he also knows what he wants and the driver with 278 Nextel Cup races on his resume said he is prepared to sit out next season if he doesn’t get the opportunity he desires.

He currently is finishing up his year with Roush Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

“I’ve had some opportunities in the Busch and Truck series but I’ve made it clear I want to get back to the Nextel Cup Series next year and I want it to be a quality opportunity,” said the 39-year-old Craven on Tuesday.

He acknowledges his strategy “comes with a risk.

“I could be left standing [without a ride] when the music stops. I’ve put myself in that position,” said Craven, one of just 15 drivers to have won races in the Cup (2 wins), Busch (4) and truck (1) series.

“Everybody in this sport has something to sell,” said Craven. “What I have to sell is that I have won in every series. I have won as recently as two years ago in the Nextel Cup Series with a single-car team. To a team that hasn’t been to Victory Lane or hasn’t won in a considerable period of time, I think I have some value. I know I can win again.”

Craven is the only driver to have won for a single-car team over the last five seasons and that was when he was with PPI Motorsports in the No. 32 Tide car. He left the struggling team 16 months ago after a 31/2-year association.

He had a career-best 15th-place points finish in 2002.

He won’t be a noncompetitive field filler in Nextel Cup, he insisted.

There has been plenty of seat swapping lately and one intriguing ride still open is the No. 22 Caterpillar Dodge for Bill Davis Racing. Scott Wimmer has been released from the ride upon the conclusion of the season.

Bill Davis Racing hasn’t won since 2002 when Ward Burton took two trips to Victory Lane.

A Dodge is the only make Craven hasn’t driven during his career. He has driven Chevys, Fords and Pontiacs.

The Jayski Web site listed Craven as one of seven possibilities for that ride.

Bobby Labonte and Joe Gibbs Racing are parting ways after the season but speculation on the Jayski Web site has J.J. Yeley taking over the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Chevy ride.

“My odds have diminished in the last few weeks because the opportunities are starting to fill up. We live in a world of statistics and numbers don’t lie. The youth movement has gained so much momentum,” said Craven. “[Twenty-four-year-old] Denny Hamlin is going to drive the 11 car next year [for Joe Gibbs Racing]. He clearly has talent and deserves the opportunity. He has done a very good job.

“That type of opportunity simply didn’t exist when I was a rookie in 1995,” Craven added. “You had to race a minimum number of years in Busch to get considered for a Cup ride. Drivers under 30 years of age who got top 10 Cup rides were few and far between. Young drivers short on experience are getting those rides now. That’s how the sport has changed,” said Craven, the 1995 Cup Rookie of the Year.

There are two races left in the truck series and Craven, currently 11th in points, said he hopes to make a decision on his future in the Nextel Cup Series within the next two weeks.

Retirement isn’t an option, he said. Nor is seeking another job within the NASCAR garage (i.e. crew chief).

“I’ll race again,” said Craven.

If he doesn’t land a Nextel Cup ride, he said he will “re-evaluate” his future.

He said he may eventually decide to seek a ride in the truck or Busch series but only if the team can challenge for the points championship.

“And if I decide to do nothing, there may be a team or two or three early next season that is underachieving and needs to make a change. That wouldn’t be a bad position for me to be in, either,” said Craven, who has meetings lined up with two teams, one a Cup team, in the next two weeks.