Former NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Ricky Craven of Newburgh has signed a contract to remain as a NASCAR analyst with ESPN.
The 48-year-old Craven wouldn’t disclose the terms of the deal other than to acknowledge it was a long-term deal.
Craven began with ESPN in 2008 and has been an in-studio analyst for the Sprint Cup series while also occasionally serving as a color commentator for Nationwide Series races.
He is regularly seen on SportsCenter and also has handled on-site chores for the network.
Craven will conclude this season providing analysis on the day before, the day of and the day after each of the final three Sprint Cup races.
“A few months after I hung up my helmet, I found a home [at ESPN],” said Craven on Wednesday. “I really enjoy the challenge of it, and I thoroughly enjoy the people I’m around. I appreciate ESPN’s confidence in me.”
Even though this is the final year of ESPN’s contract with NASCAR when it comes to televising races, Craven said he knows the network will continue to cover the Sprint Cup Series thoroughly, and he is looking forward to the rest of this season and next season.
“I’ve always been enthusiastic about it, and I still am,” said Craven who won two races during his 278-race Sprint Cup career and was a former Rookie of the Year in the Nationwide and Sprint Cup series.
“Ricky Craven has proven to be a valuable voice and analyst and we are very happy he is remaining part of the ESPN team into the future, “ Michael Shiffman, senior coordinating producer of SportsCenter, said in a news release.