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January 31, 2006
Ricky Craven - Forced Into Retirement?
It's looking likely that Ricky Craven won't be on the track in Nascar in 2006, at least not full-time. That's not because he doesn't want to be there but because the opportunity that he wants, a full-time ride in a competitive Cup car, isn't available to him. Not that there weren't other rides available to him - he was offered a few Truck or Busch rides. But those weren't what he really wanted so he opted to say "no" to all those opportunities and wait for what he really wants, which as of now hasn't materialized. He said,
"I haven't gone after anything. I'm waiting for the right opportunity, an opportunity I would be excited about."
So in the meantime, while he waits for a ride that will excite him, Craven is content to hang out with his family in Maine.
Craven still wants to race, no doubt about that.
"Don't underestimate my ambition or desire to compete. I still have a passion to compete. I miss competing every day. In my mind, I still have some value. There aren't many experienced drivers on the sidelines who have gone to Victory Lane [in the Nextel Cup Series]."
Of course Ward Burton and Steve Park are drivers who have won in Cup who are still sitting on the sidelines as of now. The problem is that having the desire to race and winning a few races isn't enough any more. Youth, marketability and the potential to be the next Jeff Gordon are what teams and sponsors are looking for. They know what they're going to get with Craven - a solid driver who can race up front when he has a competitive car. But they also know that he's not going to suddenly blossom into a superstar. And everyone is looking to catch lightening in a bottle.
Essentially I think Craven's days as a full-time driver are over. Much like Ward Burton, if he's unwilling to consider rides in other series then his options are extremely limited, especially since I doubt that he will want to get into a subpar ride just to be in Cup.
But when you hear him talk I think he's just fine with retirement, though he's not willing to call it that.
"I'm going to [go to that secret spot] for the rest of my life, and my son's going to do it with me, and my friends are going to do it with me," he said. "It's priceless. I'm just getting into that. And I've got some catching up to do."
Because Craven is realizing how much he missed out on while he was away racing. The family events and milestones. Good times with friends and family. Seeing the seasons change at Moosehead Lake in Maine. Getting to do the things he wants instead of being on the go all the time. There are some drivers like Michael Waltrip or Kevin Harvick who I think thrive on keeping themselves active and involved in a lot of ventures, on and off the track. But I've never gotten the impression that Craven is one of those. So while I think Craven is going to miss racing considerably, I also think he's going to be very happy away from the track, just like Burton.
Posted by silverdsl at January 31, 2006 08:35 AM