By Justin Pelletier,Staff Writer

OXFORD – Though TD Banknorth is the official sponsor of Sunday’s race at Oxford Plains Speedway, a case could be made that Tide was the more popular – and more visible – sponsor Sunday.

The laundry detergent sponsored Ricky Craven’s former ride in NASCAR Nextel Cup competition, and merchandise bearing his likeness – and the Tide logo – were everywhere.

“He’s a Maine driver,” said Pat Hinckley of Pittston, who went to the track Sunday wearing a bright orange T-shirt and matching baseball cap. “It’s great that a driver from Maine made it as far as he has, and people need to realize that.”

Craven has gone a long way to build such a loyal fan base all over Maine. Gary Sirois of Augusta, for example, had a brush with Craven three years ago.

“My stepson (Alex Roy) broke his femur playing football the week before the Loudon race,” said Sirois. “He was in the hospital, and he was pretty bummed out because he was going to be going to that race, and he couldn’t go.”

Disappointed for her son, Roy’s mother phoned Craven’s shop in Belfast.

“My wife called and spoke to Ricky’s sister and told her my boy was really disappointed he couldn’t make the race. He was really bumming.”

Craven’s sister took down Roy’s hospital room and telephone number in Augusta. On race day, Roy’s phone rang.

“It was Sunday at noon-time, maybe an hour before they were going green. The phone rang in his room and it was Ricky Craven,” said Sirois. “He spoke with him for 10, 15 minutes. It was the highlight of his life.”

If there was any doubt about where Sirois and his family’s allegiance lay, all doubt was gone after that day.

“We’ve always been screaming-loud Ricky Craven fans,” said Sirois, “but even if I wasn’t before then, that was the classiest thing. I was so moved. My boy was so moved. He shed a tear. He couldn’t believe Ricky Craven took a few minutes on race day to give him a call.”

Other Craven fans have known him – and followed him – for years.

“There are those of us who have followed him from the beginning,” said Brian Corliss. “You see people when, all of a sudden he’s a big-time race car driver, there are a lot more people who show up.”

Corliss grew up in Newburgh with Craven, and has seen his friend race many times. The last time Craven won the 250, though, Corliss was missing.

“That was the last time I wasn’t here,” Corliss said. “The year before that he came very close to winning it and just had an electrical malfunction, but it’s nice he’s come back here again to race.”

Corliss and his wife, Heidi, were hoping for a repeat performance from 1991, though Craven had trouble in his qualifying heat and had to race through consolation races. Despite his recent lack of a big-time ride, and his struggles Sunday, Craven understands how important the fans are – and have been – to his career.

“I’ve always had that,” Craven said. “I’ve had tremendous support. It’s been there when I won the Busch North series, when I moved south and finished second in the Busch series, and when I won a Nextel Cup race, it’s always been there. Even when times weren’t so good, when I was racing part-time, so that doesn’t surprise me.

“I never take it for granted, though,” continued Craven. “It’s something that I value, that I appreciate and I try to give a few minutes to everybody that comes by, because that’s what I’m about. I want them to have a great experience. I remember what it was like to sit in the grandstands. I remember what it was like to meet the driver when I was just a kid. That weighs pretty heavy.”