CRAVEN IN COLD: Speaking of snowmobiles, the seventh annual Ricky Craven Snowmobile Ride for charity will be held Saturday in the Greenville area. Last year, Craven and 500 other sledders raised over $185,000, bringing the six-year total to over $556,000.

Charities who receive contributions from the ride are: Children's Miracle Network, Give Kids the World, The Marrow Foundation, Make-A-Wish, and The Travis Roy Foundation.

It's not too late to join the fun. Anyone who pays the $125 fee is welcome right up to the morning of the ride, which begins with registration at 6 a.m. at Greenville High School. Donations and other inquiries can be made by writing to: Ricky Craven Snowmobile Ride for Charity, P.O. Box 2223, Bangor 04402-2223. For last minute details, call 338-0700.

Craven's Nextel Cup Tide team has hired a new crew chief, Dave Charpentier, to replace Scott Miller. It's the first crew chief assignment for Charpentier, a former Dale Earnhardt Incorporated employee. Mike Beam, Craven's crew chief when he scored his first win at Martinsville in 2001, is returning to the team as competition director.

THE 250 GETS A NEW NAME: The 31st edition of the mid-summer 250-lap classic at Oxford Plains Speedway will be known as the Bank- north Oxford 250.

The switch from longtime sponsor True Value to a "multi-year" deal with the Portland-based Banknorth Group Inc. was announced just prior to the first of the year.

For the average fan, the more significant change for 2004 is that the 250 will now be a weekend festival. The annual appearance of the ISMA tour will take place Friday, July 16, followed by the American Canadian Tour on Saturday, with the big show on Sunday.

Steve Craig covers local auto racing for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram.

Appeared in the Portland Press Herald - January 26, 2004