MBNA 400: A Salute to Heroes - Ricky Craven Notes

Ricky Craven Event Preview
No. 32 Tide Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Round 13 of 36 - MBNA America 400
Dover International Speedway

HICKORY, NC (June 1, 2004) - Ricky Craven, driver of the No. 32 Tide Chevrolet, returns to one of his favorite tracks on the circuit, "The Monster Mile." Over the past three years with PPI Motorsports, Craven has scored four top-10 finishes at Dover International Speedway.

Ricky Craven, driver of the No. 32 Tide Chevrolet:

Over the past three years with the Tide Racing team, you've finished in the top-10 four times at Dover International Speedway. What makes it such a good track for this team?
"I think it has a lot to do with the team. It's got everything to do with the team, but it doesn't hurt that I really like mile race tracks." "I have always enjoyed racing at Dover. When I first started racing there, I was in the Busch Series and there was always an extra incentive to do well there because DuPont was my sponsor then and Dover is their home track. If you look at my stats in the Busch Series, we found new ways to lose that race every time went there. Once, I was leading with seven laps to go and then blew up. I finished second too many times to count. I qualified on the pole three times and led a ton of laps, but we continued to find ways to lose those races."

Dover added a new feature to the track, the DuPont Monster Bridge, so fans could feel the experience of cars thundering underneath them. Have you ever stood on the pedestrian bridge at Dover and watched the cars go by underneath and what type of perspective was that for you as a driver?
"It is perspective you can't get any other way. Maybe they did back in the old days when the flagman was standing on the track with the cars coming at him, but looking back that wasn't real smart. There is no question about how cool that perspective is....standing on the bridge in Turn two, where the car is powering off the corner and you can actually identify with the drivers hands on the wheel. That's a pretty cool shot."

Is the sensation of speed different up there than it is in the driver's seat? Is it different for you from being in the car to see the sensation of speed standing still from that view?
"It is different, but I like my seat. I like the view from the Tide Monte Carlo. It might not be for everyone, but for anyone that has a little courage and wants a thrill a minute, it would probably be a good experience."

Chassis No.46: The Tide Racing team is taking Chassis No. 46 to Charlotte this weekend. This is the same car they competed with earlier this year at Bristol. Date Track Start Finish LC/TL Status Laps Led $Won

Team Notes: The Tide Racing team tested at Virginia International Raceway on Wednesday, June 2nd and Thursday, June 3rd in preparation for the upcoming road course race at Infineon Raceway.

Appearance: Craven will sign autographs on Saturday, June 5th approximately from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Tide Souvenir Rig. Please check with the souvenir rig in advance for ticket distribution.