Craven takes Pruett's drive at PPI

Pruett was a massive disappointment in his rookie Winston Cup season in 2000, but also endured dismal luck along the way. He was in the running for the win at Sears Point until eventual race winner Jeff Gordon punted him off, but did manage a third-placed finish at Texas. He will remain with the team in an as-yet-unspecified capacity.

"Last year was critical and we did not meet our expectations," said Wells. "I felt it was necessary for our team to get our proverbial boat out of the water. Consequently, I really felt compelled to move forward in this direction. I appreciate all Scott's done and I hope to continue my relationship with him. I want to thank him for all he's done to get us to this point."

Craven previously drove for Hendrick Motorsports in the car now driven by Jerry Nadeau. He suffered head injuries in a crash at Texas in 1997 which has dogged his career ever since. The 34-year-old has not had a regular drive over the past two seasons, but Wells feels his new signing is now 100 per cent fit: "I have no concerns whatsoever," he added.

Craven himself insisted: "I've not had any on-track incidents in the last couple of years that have caused me any problems, and time has only added to the safety net of recovery. Our focus right now is on Daytona, and we're gonna go there as contenders. I believe that, I feel that and I'm really excited about it."

Veteran crew chief Mike Beam will join Craven on the No. 32 car as Wells bids to turn PPI Motorsports, which has also ceased its CART operation for this year, into a major force in Winston Cup.