DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Steve Letarte sat at the Daytona International Speedway conference stage a month ago talking about how 2014 will be a season of last opportunities before he leaves for the NBC broadcast booth in 2015.
Last opportunity to work at Hendrick Motorsports, the only place he has ever worked.
Last opportunity to win a championship.
Last opportunity to win a Daytona 500.
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Letarte made the most of his final Daytona 500 as a crew chief by helping his driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., to capture the sports biggest racing prize Sunday night at Daytona International Speedway.
The whole thing is kind of surreal, Letarte said in the wee hours Monday morning. I dont think Im eloquent enough in my words to describe it all. It will probably sink in, well, maybe never.
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Earnhardt credits Letarte for lifting him from the depths of the worst slump of his career, which included two finishes out of the top-20 in points and just one victory.
Letarte replaced Lance McGrew after the 2011 season. They have made the Chase for the Sprint Cup each of their seasons together, and Earnhardt has publicly stated his concern that he wont be able to find a crew chief who can get as much out of him as Letarte.
Steve Letarte (AP Photo)
Earnhardt said they are treating this season like they are at the go-kart track with no more money to pay for more time.
"On that last ride, you let it all hang out," Earnhardt said. "You didn't care if you got kicked off (the track). If you didn't get kicked off, something was wrong, on that last ride. This is Steve's last ride. He's got a little racing in him, and I think he's going to try to get it all out. That's good for me. I'm fortunate to be on the ride with him."
The crew chiefs job at Daytona is done primarily before the car gets to the track. With limited adjustments, the crew chief more manages the weekend, and then the tire strategy during the race.
And in Letartes case, often works as a cheerleader for Earnhardt. He tried to keep Earnhardt relaxed in the race.
These races are hard to win, Letarte said. Weve been very fortunate to run second the last two years and Ive seen him put our car in (better) positions that they really shouldnt be in.
The night before the race, the reality of his final Daytona 500 hit Letarte as he had dinner with his wife. Letarte was 16 when he started working at Hendrick Motorsports nearly two decades ago and had never won the Daytona 500 as a crew chief.
I said, Im a little sad, this is going to be my last 500, Letarte said. Im going to have a lot of those moments this year. Everyone has a bucket list and you dont work in racing without having the Daytona 500 on your bucket list.
It seems a little bit surreal or awkward but it appears that a career-defining moment came in my last chance at it.
And how will he feel a year from now not being able to defend his Daytona 500 win?
Theres a lot of water to pass under the bridge between now and then, Letarte said. Theres still 35 other trophies (at races) to get. Theres a big one at the end of the year.
Im going to really, really enjoy this victory but as Dale said, winning reminds you how great this sport is and why we all do it and why we are all here. It really is as simple as that.
Source: http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/story/2014-02-24/daytona-500-results-dale-earnhardt-jr-win-highlights-crew-chief-steve-letarte
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