4/15 Ricky Craven on Fast Track

A former driver that's competed and won -- all three of Nate I NASCAR's major series and now it is a great job as an analyst for ES PM Ricky craven is on the line -- its debut can't near buffalo great to talk to you again. Good morning Dave -- things up in New England today. You don't think you're great I'm actually in North Carolina right right outside of Charlotte and -- But it does -- be like knowing him look cool on the but it's an interesting day you don't have normally associate -- it's what NASCAR but we had very last night and not. An it was a good. Yes certainly was an interesting race -- -- how many races. Can you know it it seems like -- trend this year -- these long Green -- stretches we sought a Martinsville we sought a Bristol and stepped in last at Texas 200. 33 laps to run the race under Green. I can you put your finger on the reason why it's been like this this season it's this that the drivers is -- the tires the cars -- weeks so clean -- -- here to start the campaign. Dave but not so much Bristol bought a lot of the kind of -- anomaly I think but Texas. Not that surprised -- the reason why is because it's very accommodating for the competitors it's become such a great -- parade. For the drivers because it's -- Baltic -- track. If you -- not balance to -- can't run the very bottom line to the corners you can slide up. On the middle even the high side in all the way up against the wall and so because there's at least three lanes to the terms. In -- don't have cars running really really close together and I think that's bigotry you don't just make options. One of those things last night in May be another reason galactic cautions as it was so windy out and may be that. Kept guys from running side by side as much as they want it to is like 3040 mile an hour wind gusts. Ricky via inexperience but driving with the wind gusts like that. Yeah all of the drivers were commenting you're right -- it was it was just another element two the rate classmate and a lot of times you win does become a factor however. It's seldom notice. By the driver and and I explained my twenties -- behind the wheel if you had eight B a -- where -- you had a a wind straight down. The backstretch. Is it wouldn't affect you. So much time on. Corner entry and three U and it would not strictly so much off before it would affect you as you turn again to turn one at a props when that. -- win. Blowing from. The front stretch the backstretch or vice Versa. Then it would affect you. Maybe a little differently but usually was covered up by the grandstands on the front stretch so. -- have effects are really depends on what track you're you're you're wrapped the facility. And you know and and and where the grandstands are located. IQ I do know that when it when you have a -- -- the one that we had last -- Texas. And the element to working against you so that the windows is on a corner entry you if you 200 out of our fiscal about. Without those got yeah yes it absolutely can truly occur. Immediately solace like to the trash getting blown -- it gain lodging -- grills and causing affair -- few overheating problems. I'm Ricky besides that you handle laying it in overheating. Is Ernie there mechanical issues that the wind causes does that affect fuel mileage is a fact and your performance when it's real windy like that at all. Well I know I can integrate its -- really has what you described that you can't you're on the Green flag run. And the traps that get circulated on the grand stand down on the race should serve as. Is that ordered it to the latch on to your grill. Imagine that that the teams and crew chief specifically. These cars. So this week moaned and aerodynamic click on that. A half inch. Replicate across the grow in different between. Not only overheating are not but even the balance. Of the car -- you know the pressure on the -- -- the pressure on the back so. Increase the tractor covers up. 68 pensions of your grill that -- dramatic shift in the way the car's balance the way -- handles. Of course it's unfortunate that hero because you can you can even you -- -- -- because. ESPN analyst Ricky craven -- meet Dave Buchanan here WG arts -- of course -- Greg Biffle getting the win last night. Points leader right now he hasn't finished worse than thirteenth all season. -- right now I know it's only seven races in but where you think of the -- championship chances are right now after this fast start. I've always admired Greg and when -- raced against them actually knowing about it as always being a -- and driver. A champion and truck series champion of the Nationwide Series. And days you don't contender for championships and Sprint Cup Series that in the past well coming into the season. In -- early forties. And based on the way -- -- last year I would not considered in the favor but like that so they turn things around and the national question that Roush Fenway racing. Have things headed in the right direction. And I think they're great is an absolute contender and the primary reason is because. You can see the the confidence in the team building every week. And when you compile combine a young energetic group of team members and the crew chief Matthew -- who I work with that -- satellite. And my later years when you combine that youth and energy. -- a senior driver or brick walls of bill. Capabilities. That's a great combination he's the senior driver and Greg has the ability to manage a race manages season and very well managed a ten race chase. Yet he has deftly. Obvious he's off to a good start this should be a great season for the sixteen team and all -- It's been a great -- for rush friendly racing and it's not even common from the 1990 units that the sixteen -- seventeen that are right now leading the charge but it. What do you think about Karl this season last year he had maybe the best balls consistencies and ever it never does put up the winds. Do you think maybe he's trying extra hard to go for wins now in its -- have a little bit of effect on some of the -- -- -- that are not I'm not surprised by the start by the 919 I I felt like the greatest risk of oral. Was that hangover that dreaded hangover that sometimes -- sex with team that came within a whisker of the championship the -- of course what happened with the nine in nineteen. Remember they tied for the championship at the 2000 Webb right with Tony Stewart. And they locked the title essentially didn't -- watch the title because of the tiebreaker I only had more wins. That is a tough pill to swallow you don't have stability the back a year earlier. And see the fact that it appear to have -- -- one right cheek he -- sold the winning the championship the year before. And then they had very difficult year in 2011. So. For whatever reason and I think a lot of -- none of that there is. Often and over Paula. After he even driver comes so close to winning a title but but but fail. Ricky the NASCAR camera truck series is an action today. -- Rockingham the first major NASCAR its Iraqi instance 2004 and attract coincidentally where you make your first career cup series start. What memories do you have of the rock. One of my favorite tracks I've I've always felt like one mile racetrack -- perfect they were a great balance of a speed. Yet and going you know he the rental car whether New Hampshire. Dover -- -- -- -- who brought him great. Whether it was the circus and and the banking and and a much like what -- contract last night. If you couldn't find the balance on the bottom on the racetrack you could adjust your line give -- -- corner or to the middle. There's that second and third group. It made a great racing I think -- you're just great. The liberation area. It should be great truck precept and Ricky lastly before you go. What can we see you on TV maxed out with the NASCAR now crew. Yeah I'll be back this weekend and not really looking forward to something happens is not there every weekend. And always appreciate the NASCAR fan but they also appreciate you of anybody that. You know part of the Stanley enough. You know and I think it's a great -- a lot a lot to talk about this year and I a lot of variety when you consider. Greg Biffle senior driver at the top of the stand. Well Ricky it's a great to talk to get although. And they were talking about the great and some great finishes in baseball and basketball football by. -- you incurred at Darlington -- I I need to see great -- -- -- finish -- -- their their message out so hot I can I can watch that highly adult day have you incurred revenue for the win at Darlington -- I appreciate that I'll make sure that somebody up they're good at our Rickie thank you for the time this morning take care hopefully we Kentucky and Austin.