Crew Chief Profile


Steve Letarte
Position: Crew Chief
16th year in racing
15th year with Hendrick


Personal

Date of birth: 5/14/1979
Place of birth: Portland, Maine
Hometown: Cornish, Maine
Current residence: Cornelius, North Carolina
Spouse: Tricia
Children: Son (Tyler), Daughter (Ashlyn)



Career Highlights

2008

Led the No. 24 team to four pole positions, 13 top-five finishes and 19 top-10s. Finished inside the top-10 in the final standings (seventh position) for the third straight season. Also helped Jeff Gordon to extend streak of 16 consecutive seasons with a pole, including Gordon’s first career pole at Texas Motor Speedway.

2007

Led the No. 24 team to six victories, seven poles, 21 top-five finishes, and 30 top-10s -- a single season record for most top-10 finishes in the modern era (1972 – present). Also led Gordon to first win at Phoenix International Raceway and 12th career restrictor plate victory -- a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series record.

2006

In first year as crew chief, led No. 24 team to two victories, two poles, 14 top-five finishes, 18 top-10s and a sixth-place finish in the "Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup." Also led Jeff Gordon to first win at Chicagoland Speedway and ninth overall road course victory -- a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series record.

2005

Named crew chief following race No. 26 at Richmond International Raceway. Posted his first victory as a crew chief at Martinsville Speedway in only his sixth race in that role. Led the No. 24 team to five top-10 finishes in final six races of 2005 season.

2004

Car chief for the No. 24 Chevrolet. Team posted five wins, six poles, 16 top-five finishes and a series-leading 25 top-10 finishes. Team finished third in inaugural “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup” championship.

2003

As car chief, notched three wins including a sweep at Martinsville and a win at Atlanta, four poles, 15 top-five finishes, 20 top-10s and a fourth-place finish in the point standings.

2002

Began the year as a general mechanic. Promoted to car chief before race No. 29 in Kansas. Team posted three wins, three poles, 13 top-five finishes, 20 top-10s and a fourth-place finish in the point standings.

2001

Worked as a mechanic and celebrated third of four No. 24 Team DuPont championships, achieving six victories, six poles, 18 top-five finishes and 24 top-10s.

2000

First season as a general mechanic for the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet. Team posted three wins, three poles, 11 top-five finishes, 22 top-10s and a ninth-place finish in the standings.

1999

Served as tire specialist for No. 24 team which posted seven wins, seven poles, 18 top-five finishes, 21 top-10s and finished sixth in points.

1998

Tire specialist during 13-win championship season. Along with those wins, team achieved seven poles, 26 top-five finishes and 28 top-10s.

1997

Tire specialist during the No. 24 DuPont team’s championship season that included 10 victories, one pole, 22 top-five finishes and 23 top-10s. Team also celebrated its first Daytona 500 victory and captured the “Winston Million.”

1996

Joined Hendrick Motorsports full-time at the age of 16 as a mechanic and tire specialist for the No. 24 team. The team posted a second-place finish in the point standings, posting 10 wins, five poles, 21 top-five finishes and 24 top-10s.

1995

Worked part time for the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team as a parts assistant while attending high school.


 

 

 

 
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