Craven to leave PPI

Craven has not managed to recreate the form that saw him take a dramatic victory at Darlington early last year when he and Kurt Busch banged wheels across the finish line. The Chevrolet Monte Carlo driver currently lies 31st in the standings and has yet to qualify higher than 17th.

"You're always judged by how well you're running or not running," he said. "What [team boss Cal Wells] and I agreed is that there's a right and wrong way of doing things, and the right way for he and I to do end this would be at the end of this season instead of letting this go with no clear picture."

There are no indications as to the identity of Craven's replacement, but the veteran has no intention of retiring and is keen to use the rest of the season to prove he can still cut it at the top level of the sport.

"Cal and I have a lot to race for this second half of the season. A lot," Craven said. "And I think you're going to see that. I'm going to enjoy it. I understand my position and I'm going to go after it.

"It concerns me in the respect that I don't know what the perception is on 38-year old racecar drivers. My own opinion is, there's a certain value to youth and the energy and aggression, but there's a certain value to experience and savvy and knowing the drivers and their personalities.

"I feel like 35 to 40 is the sweet spot there, where you have both. I've still got the energy, the determination, but I've also got the experience. I'd like to race at least two more years in a quality situation, but I'm not interested in just being here. And at 38, as we close the door on 2004, I'll just have to evaluate that based on opportunity."