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NASCAR WCUP: Driver, Crew Chiefs Named at PPI Motorsports

4 January 2001

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

HICKORY, NC- PPI Motorsports announced the following new team appointments today in a reorganization of the company's two-car entry in the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series:

* Ricky Craven, 34, of Concord, N.C., has been named driver of the team's No. 32 Tide Ford.

* Mike Beam, who recently joined PPI Motorsports' senior management team, will serve as crew chief for Craven and the No. 32 Tide Ford.

* Joe Garone, current NASCAR program manager for PPI Motorsports, has been named crew chief for the No. 96 McDonald's Ford driven by Andy Houston.

Ricky Craven will begin driving duties in the No. 32 Tide Ford, fulfilled this past season by Scott Pruett, at next week's open Ford test at Daytona International Speedway (Jan. 8-9). Craven, who enters his seventh Winston Cup season in 2001, made his Cup debut in 1991 but did not begin full-time Cup competition until 1995 - the year he earned four top tens and NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year honors. Since then, Craven has claimed a total of three pole positions, seven top fives and 17 top tens in Winston Cup competition.

Craven entered the Winston Cup series after a strong run in the NASCAR Busch Series, where he was named Rookie of the Year in 1992. The Newburgh, ME, native made a name for himself through regional racing, most notably as the 1990 Busch North Series Rookie of the Year and 1991 Busch North Series Champion. Craven was also named the Busch North Series' Most Popular Driver both years (1990 and 1991).

"Scott Pruett did an admirable job for us in our first season, and I am grateful to him for the contributions and sacrifices he's made for our NASCAR program," said PPI Motorsports president and owner Cal Wells III. "This decision isn't just about one element. It's about our team as a whole - our development, our experience, and ultimately where we need to be in terms of performance in all areas.

"In looking hard at the past year and where we're headed, we realized that working with a veteran NASCAR driver was something we had to consider," Wells continued. "Our program is still evolving through our first years in the sport, and having a driver who's been down this road before - several times - provides yet another baseline against which we can better measure our overall progress.

"Ricky brings outstanding experience, ability and motivation to his efforts, something that might not have had the opportunity to really show itself in recent years," Wells continued. "We're confident he can help us apply his experience in a way that benefits both his career and our development into a competitive top-tier team by 2003."

"This is the opportunity of a lifetime for me," said Craven, who most recently competed in two partial seasons with MidWest Transit Racing (1999-2000). "This team is on the verge of realizing its potential in the Winston Cup series, and I feel the same way in many respects. My background and experiences have helped prepare me for a big commitment at this point in my career, and I'm proud to be making it with PPI Motorsports and Tide."

Mike Beam, who recently joined PPI Motorsports' senior management team, will take on the role of crew chief for Craven and the No. 32 Tide Ford. Beam joined PPI Motorsports from Galaxy Motorsports, where he was team manager at the close of the 2000 season. Prior to that, Beam served as crew chief for a number of noted teams including Wood Brothers Racing (1999-2000), Bill Elliott Racing (1995-1998), Junior Johnson (1991-1995), Melling Racing (1990), Bahari' Racing (1988-1989) and Petty Enterprises (started in 1981).

"In reviewing our first season, one of the elements we've been lacking is consistent leadership and feedback at the management level from someone who has the depth of years of experience in the Winston Cup series," said Wells. "Mike brings that informed perspective, and we're very eager to incorporate his input as we continue preparing for the 2001 season."

In addition to changes on the No. 32 team, PPIM has named Joe Garone crew chief for the No. 96 McDonald's Ford driven by Andy Houston. Garone steps back into the crew chief role full-time this season from his position as program manager for PPI Motorsports' two-car Winston Cup effort. Garone joined PPI Motorsports after four years working alongside Beam at Bill Elliott Racing (1996-1999), where he served as crew chief from 1998 to 1999. Garone also spent six years as crew chief for driver Rick Carelli in NASCAR's Southwest and Winston West Tours and the Craftsman Truck Series (1990-1996).

Scott Houston, who had been serving as crew chief for the Tide Ford since the October Charlotte race, has returned to his duties as project coordinator for PPIM's engineering department. Pat Smith, crew chief for the McDonald's/PPI Motorsports Busch and Cup efforts last season, has been named car chief for the No. 96 McDonald's Ford. Nick Harvey, PPI Motorsports' Atlantic program manager for the past four years, will take on administrative duties for the team's two-car Winston Cup effort in support of Garone's more focused role.

"Joe assumed interim crew chief responsibilities for the No. 32 Tide Ford during the 2000 season, but his management duties prevented him from fulfilling that role full-time," said Wells. "This appointment gives Joe the opportunity, as well as the support he needs, to fully invest himself as the crew chief of the McDonald's Ford and bring his valuable NASCAR experience to the table."

PPI Motorsports is currently preparing its two-car stable for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series' season-opening Daytona 500 (Feb. 18, 2001). PPI Motorsports, LLC, a motorsports company based in Hickory, N.C., fields the No. 32 Tide Ford and the No. 96 McDonald's Ford full-time in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series.

Text Provided By Amy Riley

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