Craven may race in Busch Series Driver could compete next week

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LOUDON, N.H. – Newburgh’s Ricky Craven may return to racing next weekend during the Busch race at Martinsville Speedway (Va.) in preparation for the TD Banknorth 250 at Oxford Plains Speedway on July 30.

Craven hasn’t raced since the final NASCAR Craftsman Truck series race last season but is considering a Busch ride “to kind of get going again.

“It’s been a while [since I’ve been in a race car]. I’ll make that decision in the next day or two,” said Craven.

He wouldn’t say who is offering him a Busch ride.

Craven will be one of four with Nextel Cup experience in the Oxford 250. The others will be Kyle Busch, J.J. Yeley and Denny Hamlin.

Craven said he was also in attendance for Nextel Cup qualifying and practices Friday “because it’s home and I wanted to see some old friends.”

Martinsville has been a good track for Craven. He won one of his two Nextel Cup races there in 2001 and became the 15th driver in history to win in the Cup, Busch and Truck series when he posted his only Truck win for Jack Roush Racing last season.

Craven has been spending much of his summer with wife K.K. and children Riley, Everett and Lydia at their Greenville home.

Craven is looking for a ride, preferably in a Nextel Cup car.

Maxim aids Hendrick success

Gardiner’s Scott Maxim, who works for Hendrick Motorsports’ engine department, said it has been a productive season so far for the team.

Hendrick drivers Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon have combined for five wins in 18 races. Johnson has three and Gordon has two in the last three races. Johnson, who leads the points chase, has seven top fives and Gordon has six. Gordon is 10th in points.

Kyle Busch doesn’t have any wins but has six top fives and is sitting eighth in the points.

Brian Vickers is 20th in points thanks to two top fives.

“It has been a good year so far,” said the 41-year-old Maxim. “We’ve been very solid. We’ve spread a lot across our teams. They’ve all been competitive. We’ve got two different teams with a win and the 5 (Kyle Busch) has been very competitve and the 25 as well (Vickers).”

Maxim said the team is as “big as ever.

“There’s always a lot going on. We’ve got 10 teams here between the Busch series and the Cup series. It keeps me busy,” said Maxim.”We’ve been making some good gains on what we’re looking to do on the engines and trying to help support our teams as much as we can there.

“The way the schedule runs right now, we have to follow a path or progression of development because as we approach the final 10 races of the year, we want to have a package we’re very confident in. We’ve been able to make good power gains and performance improvements but, at the same time, with 10 races on the line at the end of the year, we’ve got to have a package we feel very comfortable and durable about as well,” said Maxim.

He said the team has improved over where it was at this point last season.

“As a whole, we’ve been able to elevate the program and certain our intermediate track portion of our program has been stronger this year. We’ve made some good gains there. It has been very encouraging. That is a very important part of what we do because there are so many races that we run at mile and a half and up type of tracks,” said Maxim.

Heat doesn’t bother Marlin

Columbia, Tenn. native and veteran Nextel Cup driver Sterling Marlin wasn’t bothered by the sweltering 90-degree plus heat at New Hampshire International Speedway Friday.

“It ain’t that hot. We’re used to it. Ya’ll think it’s hot up here but it feels good. I like hot weather,” said Marlin.

He said it is important to keep hydrated by drinking water.

Yeley ready for Maine race

Yeley said he is looking forward to the TD Banknorth 250.

“I guess it’s one of those races where you get to have fun with it and there’s no pressure. Other than guys gunning for us because we’re Nextel Cup drivers. I’ve only been in one pavement late model race in my life. That was an exhibition a couple of weeks ago. So it’s going to be pretty interesting.”

Yeley said he knew the Busch brothers (Kurt and Kyle) have gone up there and I’ve talked to them a little bit. Kyle isn’t going to give me too much [in the way of tips], because I heard he’s heading up there to race. Obviously it’s fun because he’s going to be back there and Denny’s going to be there. Ricky Craven’s going to be there. So there’s going to be a lot of Nextel Cup and past Nextel Cup drivers there. I’m sure it’s going to be a lot of fun. It’s going to be ultra competitive.”

Yeley qualified 20th for Sunday’s Lenox Industrial Tools 300 and he will also run the Busch race today. Qualifying and the race will both be on Saturday.

Yeley is running 27th in Nextel Cup points as a rookie.

Hamlin, another rookie, is 12th in points.

Yeley and Hamlin race for Joe Gibbs Racing.