Craven not anticipating full-time ride Driver may form truck team

Newburgh native Ricky Craven, who finished 14th in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points standings for Roush Racing this year, said Monday he doesn’t expect to race full time next year.

“I’m not going to pursue full-time Busch or Truck Series opportunities and it’s late in the game for Nextel Cup,” said the 39-year-old Craven, who has run 278 Nextel Cup races in his career. “I’m not saying it won’t happen [in Nextel Cup], but I don’t expect it this late.”

He reiterated he doesn’t want to drive for a single-car Cup team or a team that doesn’t have the resources to be competitive.

“I’m not interested in just racing. I don’t want to be a field-filler. That’s not how I want to race,” said Craven. “I’ve established my criteria for that.

“I am interested in racing in the Truck Series part time. It’s a wonderful series. I may even pursue that with my own team. If I did that, I would still have an opportunity to race Nextel Cup.”

He indicated he would be interested in a part-time ride for a good, established Nextel Cup team, also.

There are rumors circulating that Bobby Hamilton Jr., who replaced Craven in the Tide No. 32 Nextel Cup Chevy Monte Carlo 16 months ago, won’t return to drive for PPI Motorsports and team owner Cal Wells III next season.

Would Craven return to the team with which he won two Nextel Cup races, the only single-car team to do so over the last five years, and posted 10 top-fives and 24 top-10s in their 31/2-year relationship?

“I certainly have an interest in helping Cal. We’re friends. We’ll see. But it needs to be a different situation,” said Craven, referring primarily to Wells’ ability to land a second team and sponsor.

Hamilton finished 36th in points and failed to qualify for three races. He didn’t record a top-10 finish, had only three top-20s, and finished 35th or worse 19 times. He didn’t dent the top 30 in his last seven races.

Craven became only the 15th driver in history to win a Nextel Cup, a Busch, and a Craftsman Truck Series race when he won the Kroger 200 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on Oct. 22.

But that was one of the few highlights after Craven registered seven top-10 finishes in his first eight races. He had two more top-10s over the final 17 while dropping to 14th in points.

His close friend and crew chief Mike Beam was switched from his team to help struggling rookie Todd Kluever’s team soon after the great start.

Craven wasn’t consulted about the move.

He eventually announced he was leaving Roush Racing after the season.

Beam and Craven had tested 10 times together and collaborated on the start that saw him second in points after nine races.

Jon Monsam became his crew chief for a few races, then John Quinn took over as his crew chief on Aug. 11.

Kluever wound up 11th thanks to Beam’s guidance and was the Rookie of the Year. Kluever will move up to Busch next year and take over the No. 6 Cup ride in 2007.

“I like Jack Roush,” insisted Craven. “I have no animosity towards Jack.”

He called his season disappointing.

“That’s all I really care to say about it,” he said.

He remains determined to return to Nextel Cup some day and said “winning a Cup race at Loudon [New Hampshire International Speedway] is at the top of my list.”

“It’s critical that whatever I do, I’m excited about doing it,” added Craven.