PERSONAL PROFILE
	Spouse: Cathleen Kids: Riley Diane, Richard Everett Hometown: Newburgh, ME Birthdate: May 24, 1966 Hobbies: Golf, Working out, Family, Stock market

Ricky Craven's recent career has proven nothing if not that the former Northeast standout is committed to excellence, and on his way to the top of the Winston Cup ranks. Given that he comes back in 2001 with a solid sponsor, Tide, on the technically proficient PPI Motorsports Fords, he could be on line to achieve the potential he showed before his career was derailed by injuries a couple seasons ago.

Craven made 16 starts for the under-funded Midwest Transit Chevrolet team in 2000 and put himself in a position to earn the ride with Cal Wells III's team. He qualified fifth at New Hampshire and had a season best finish of 15th at Rockingham in the fall, in a stretch of races in which he posted three out of four top-20 finishes.

Craven, a Newburgh, Maine, native whose upward career path was slowed by injuries suffered in 19997 and 1998 when he drove for Hendrick Motorsports, steps into the PPI ride and replaces 2000 rookie Scott Pruett, who bore the brunt of the former Indy car team's step into the Winston Cup Series by failing to qualify for six races and finished 40th or worse seven times.

Some call Craven, who led two races in 2000, a modern-day version of former driver Pete Hamilton -- the comparison obviously made because both came from the New England states and established themselves as fierce competitors. And both won NASCAR's Rookie of the Year title in their inaugural seasons.

But any driver's skill or reputation other than his own won't define Craven. Once again, Craven overcame a great deal of adversity and made the absolute most of the opportunities he was given. He hasn't put up the results to match his perceived talent, but his tenacity continues to win him fans and respect.

Craven spent much of 1998 recovering from post-concussion syndrome, resulting from injuries he actually suffered in 1997. He won the Bud Pole in his first race back, the Jiffy Lube 300 at New Hampshire.

The NASCAR world still hasn't seen what Craven will be able to do when he is able to stay healthy for an entire season. If he manages to catch some good luck, it's not unreasonable to think he might get his first NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and maybe his first top-10 points finish.

Hendrick Motorsports recognized Craven's potential and lured the young driver away from a shared ownership deal with team boss Larry Hedrick for the 1997 season. He opened with a stunning third place finish in the Daytona 500 and ended up with a career high 19th place in the point standings.

Craven's path to the Winston Cup Series came through the Busch North Series, where he ran the full season for the first time in 1990. He won two races that season, grabbed the Busch Pole Award for winning seven poles during the season, and claimed both the rookie of the year title and the series' most popular driver award.

In 1991, he swept it all, including the championship, with 10 victories, six poles, the pole award and the most popular driver trophy.

He moved to the Busch Series in 1992, won the rookie title and finished second in the 1993 and 1994 Busch Series season standings. His first two wins in Busch Series competition came in 1994, when he scored at Hickory and Nazareth.