Craven to drive third Gibbs car at Talladega.

Ricky Craven has been handed a one-race Nextel Cup lifeline with Joe Gibbs Racing for this Sunday's EA Sports 500 at the Talladega Superspeedway as he takes the wheel of the team's #11 Old Spice Chevrolet .

Craven, who was released from his ride with PPI Motorsports last month, will try and support Nextel Cup 'Chase' contender Tony Stewart around the 2.66-mile oval as the #11 team prepare for a full-time assault on the 2005 Nextel Cup with an as yet unconfirmed driver.

The 38 year-old New England based driver has one top five and three top ten finishes in 16 career Cup starts at the intimidating Alabama venue. While up and coming driver JJ Yeley has been widely rumoured as the leading candidate for the #11 team in 2005, a good showing on Sunday could go some way towards persuading Gibbs to opt for experience over youth for the team's inaugural Nextel Cup campaign with Yeley continuing to gain experience in the NASCAR Busch Series.