CONCORD, N.C. – Ricky Craven is the latest Hendrick Motorsports alumnus to be announced as participating in "Hendrick Homecoming" at the Hendrick Motorsports campus.
Fans can click here to enter a raffle registration to win a spot for Craven's autograph session, which will take place on Saturday, May 25, at 2 p.m. ET.
RELATED: All the information to know for 'Hendrick Homecoming'
Ahead of the 1997 season, Craven joined Hendrick Motorsports after two full-time seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series. He started strong out of the gate with back-to-back top-five finishes. In his first start with the Rick Hendrick-owned team, Craven was part of the trio of teammates that completed a 1-2-3 sweep of positions in the 1997 DAYTONA 500. Craven came home third behind Hendrick Motorsports stablemates Jeff Gordon (race winner) and Terry Labonte (second). The result was the first top-three sweep of finishing positions for the organization.
Craven suffered a concussion following a practice crash at Texas Motor Speedway and missed two races. Upon returning, he won the 1997 Winston Open to earn a spot in his first All-Star Race (then called The Winston). In the fall, Craven matched his best points-paying finish at Hendrick Motorsports with a third-place run at Rockingham Speedway – his second top-five result there in 1997 – after leading a season-high 139 laps.
RELATED: See all the drivers to lead laps for Hendrick Motorsports
In 1998, Craven ran the opening four races before being sidelined for the next 13 events with post-concussion syndrome. He returned for four races and scored the pole at New Hampshire Motor Speedway before eventually parting ways with Hendrick Motorsports. Craven raced for multiple teams in the next six seasons in the Cup Series, recording two wins at Martinsville Speedway in 2001 and Darlington Raceway in 2003. The Darlington victory features one of NASCAR history's most memorable last-lap finishes. Throughout his NASCAR career, Craven won in all three national series (twice in the Cup Series, four times in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and once in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series). After retiring, the native of Maine, worked as an analyst for ESPN and FOX Sports.
FAST FACTS OF CRAVEN'S TIME WITH HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS IN THE CUP SERIES
YEARS WITH HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS: 1997-1998
CAR NUMBERS: No. 25 (1997), No. 50 (1998)
TOP FIVES: 4
TOP 10S: 8
POLES: 1
LAPS LED: 298