ome call him 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.

Now those same people might be tempted to call him the next Ken Schrader, as Craven moves to replace the former Hendrick Motorsports regular in the No. 25 Budweiser car for 1997.

But Craven won't be defined by any driver's skill or reputation other than his own. And 1996 was a year that left many impressions about the personable resident of Concord, N.C. Craven's 20th-place finish represented not so much what he accomplished in 1996, but what he overcame.

Craven was the victim of a multi-car crash at Talladega in the Winston Select 500. While the superior safety engineering of a NASCAR Winston Cup car protected him from serious harm, the violent impact and subsequent recovery left Craven a shell of the driver he was at the season's outset.

The beginning of 1996 saw Craven post four top-10s in the first seven races, including a Busch Pole Award at the Goody's 500 at Martinsville.It was his first NASCAR Winston Cup pole, and it came at the sight of his first NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division pole.

It was not a sign of good things to come, however. Craven would manage only one more top-10 finish the rest of the year, a fifth-place in the UAW/GM Quality 500. But the fifth place was more than window dressing, it was a competitive challenging result that showed people what Craven is capable of when he is healthy, and has a good car underneath him.

Defending NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion owner Rick Hendrick recognized that potential and lured Craven away from a shared ownership deal with Kodiak team boss Larry Hedrick.

Craven's path to NASCAR Winston Cup came through the Busch North Series Division, 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 (N.C.) and Nazareth (Pa.).

Has been winner at every level on his way to NASCAR Winston Cup, including Busch Series and Busch North.

A native of Newburgh, Maine, Ricky now resides with his wife and daughter near Charlotte.

Winner of tight battle for 1995 MAXX Rookie of Year award, beating Robert Pressley in final race of season.

Undeniably talented, Ricky started from the top 10 in six races in 1995, including the outside of the front row at the fall Charlotte race.

Best finish was seventh in second Michigan race in 1995. Also finished in top 10 at May Charlotte race, Watkins Glen and fall Rockingham event.