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When Rick Hendrick announced that crew chief, Steve Letarte, would shift over to the #88 team from Jeff Gordon's it was the beginning of Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2.0.
In computer terminology that round number means a new version.
“I think the most important thing we did, when Mr. Hendrick made the changes to the race team (at the end of 2010), we started with a blank sheet of paper,” said Letarte. “We didn't take any preconceived notions of what Dale's strengths or weaknesses were. I personally didn't listen to anybody else's opinions on Dale. I learned a lot from Mr. Hendrick on how to deal with people and with relationships, and the most important thing is to create your own relationship firsthand. Dale and I did that.”
That switch didn't pay off immediately because it really was the rebuilding of Dale Earnhardt Jr. as a driver, a contender, and finally a winner. He admitted that he felt for the fans that stood by him during a 143-race winless drought.
That renovation was a lengthy process you might even say frustrating.
“It was trying on our patience when we started to see success last year. Of course, we wanted to push harder. But I was very proud at the patience everyone in the race team had. Mr. Hendrick has a tremendous amount of patience and allowed us to do everything we could to improve, giving us every tool possible. It's taken a while but we feel now we're kind of hitting our stride,” Letarte added.
Hendrick is a keen observer of human nature. The key to the Hendrick Motorsports enviable record has been the teaming of great drivers with great chiefs. And Letarte may turn out to be the guy for Earnhardt Jr. even more than Junior and Tony Eury, Jr. his former crew chief.
“Chemistry is so important.” Hendrick said. “Sometimes you never hit the right combination. But, man, I look back and I think we're very fortunate. Didn't have any idea it was going to be this good. But I think that the chemistry between these two guys, and I've been doing this for 30 years, is as good as or better than any I've ever seen.”
Although the headlines will blare about Junior's first victory in four years statistics tell an even more impressive story. His average finish this year is 7.4, with six-top five finishes and 12 top-10 finishes in the first 15 races this year. Only four points behind Matt Kenseth Junior is poised to make a serious challenge for the coveted Sprint Cup and he knows it.
Hendrick said he's confident that he's got a new driver now. “When he came out and said, ‘I'm getting the job done, I'm the A horse in the stable right now,' and felt good about saying that, that just showed me that he was at max confidence, and that's what he needed, that's what he needs.
When he gets that little stride, that little smile, that kind of notch in his step, he's starting having fun with it, and he starts playing with the guys on the radio when he's leading the race, that kind of reminds me of his dad. I love to see that.”
In computer terminology that round number means a new version.
“I think the most important thing we did, when Mr. Hendrick made the changes to the race team (at the end of 2010), we started with a blank sheet of paper,” said Letarte. “We didn't take any preconceived notions of what Dale's strengths or weaknesses were. I personally didn't listen to anybody else's opinions on Dale. I learned a lot from Mr. Hendrick on how to deal with people and with relationships, and the most important thing is to create your own relationship firsthand. Dale and I did that.”
That switch didn't pay off immediately because it really was the rebuilding of Dale Earnhardt Jr. as a driver, a contender, and finally a winner. He admitted that he felt for the fans that stood by him during a 143-race winless drought.
That renovation was a lengthy process you might even say frustrating.
“It was trying on our patience when we started to see success last year. Of course, we wanted to push harder. But I was very proud at the patience everyone in the race team had. Mr. Hendrick has a tremendous amount of patience and allowed us to do everything we could to improve, giving us every tool possible. It's taken a while but we feel now we're kind of hitting our stride,” Letarte added.
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| Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Steve Letarte celebrating their victory in Michigan. (Photo: NASCAR) |
Hendrick is a keen observer of human nature. The key to the Hendrick Motorsports enviable record has been the teaming of great drivers with great chiefs. And Letarte may turn out to be the guy for Earnhardt Jr. even more than Junior and Tony Eury, Jr. his former crew chief.
“Chemistry is so important.” Hendrick said. “Sometimes you never hit the right combination. But, man, I look back and I think we're very fortunate. Didn't have any idea it was going to be this good. But I think that the chemistry between these two guys, and I've been doing this for 30 years, is as good as or better than any I've ever seen.”
Although the headlines will blare about Junior's first victory in four years statistics tell an even more impressive story. His average finish this year is 7.4, with six-top five finishes and 12 top-10 finishes in the first 15 races this year. Only four points behind Matt Kenseth Junior is poised to make a serious challenge for the coveted Sprint Cup and he knows it.
Hendrick said he's confident that he's got a new driver now. “When he came out and said, ‘I'm getting the job done, I'm the A horse in the stable right now,' and felt good about saying that, that just showed me that he was at max confidence, and that's what he needed, that's what he needs.
When he gets that little stride, that little smile, that kind of notch in his step, he's starting having fun with it, and he starts playing with the guys on the radio when he's leading the race, that kind of reminds me of his dad. I love to see that.”