Craven

That's the way Ricky Craven summed up his day at Martinsville Speedway where he captured his first career Winston Cup win Monday in the rain-delayed Old Dominion 500.

Craven's tumultuous NASCAR career may be better defined by the comment his wife made while the two were floating on Maine's Moosehead Lake a couple of years ago. Craven had been forced out of the series after head injuries left many wondering if he still possessed the fire needed to compete on the stock-car circuit. Throughout the 1997 and '98 seasons, Craven struggled with what later was diagnosed as post-concussion syndrome.

"Ricky, just remember that tough times never last, but tough people do," Cathleen Craven said.

Craven was always successful. His resume includes the 1991 Busch North title and Rookie of the Year honors the following year in NASCAR's Busch Series. He earned a "can't miss" label after finishing second in Busch points in both 1993 and '94. After a ride with Larry Hendrick, Craven got the call to join one of NASCAR's elite teams -- Hendrick Motorsports.

He opened with a stunning third-place finish in the Daytona 500 and finished a career-high 19th in the standings.

But in 1997, the Newburgh, Maine, native suffered a concussion that was first thought to be minor. Then, the following year, Craven's stock dropped after he suffered another conccussion.

It wasn't until Craven left the 1998 season in his rear view mirror that medical personnel discovered he suffered from post-concussion syndrome. Craven wanted to drive. He still had the fire, but wrestled with a mysterious injury that affects the brain, manifesting itself in mysterious ways that can baffle the best doctors.

"I had to do what was best for my family and the other drivers," Craven said.

He stepped out of the sport and pursued recovery.

When Craven felt he had healed, and decided to return to racing, the doors were suddenly closed. The rumor that he would never be able to return to form spread faster than a computer virus. The only rides available were with under-funded teams that established drivers stayed away from. Craven brought his best to the track each week, but his teams could not compete financially. For Craven, it was a mental struggle to go to the track each week.

"Floating on Moosehead Lake, I wondered if I would ever get the chance again," Craven said.

His chance finally came, but from outside the fraternity that comprises much of NASCAR's elite circuit. Cal Wells had moved from CART to the world of NASCAR with lofty ambitions. Some of the Californian's ideas were outside conventional NASCAR thinking. Wells enjoyed little success his first season with Scott Pruett, another CART emigrant, in the seat. Wells' PPI operation failed to qualify for six races and finished no better than 40th seven times.

Maybe Wells had read the same inspirational message as Craven's wife. Wells hired Craven for the 2001 season after putting Ricky through an exhaustive battery of medical tests to ascertain his health.

Only four top-10 finishes preceded Craven's win at Martinsville. But there were moments that foreshadowed his Old Dominion triumph.

He nearly won Indy's Brickyard 400. With 25 laps remaining he was in third place and gaining time on leader Jeff Gordon.

"Ricky, you can do this," radioed Mike Beam, his chief mechanic. "You have done this many times before."

Craven, calmly and confidently replied, "Just sit back and let's enjoy the last 20 laps or so."

A late-race skirmish with the concrete ended any chance for a win and the team settled for a ninth-place finish.

When a late caution flew in Martinsville, Beam elected to take on two tires instead of four. Craven's biggest challenger for the lead he enjoyed was Dale Jarrett, who took four new Goodyears.

Again, Beam hit the radio button to his driver. "Ricky, you're gonna have to give it all you got," he said.

"I know that," Craven said. "Just hold on and watch."

The last lap was a thing of beauty. As Craven clung to the lead, Jarrett mounted a challenge to the outside that, for a brief moment, gave the 1999 Winston Cup champ the lead by a couple of inches. But out of Turn 2, Craven "did what he had to do," according to Jarrett, and took the UPS Ford driver out to the wall preserving the victory for Cravem.