Steve Letarte, crew chief of the #88 Chevrolet, looks on in the garage area during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Preseason Thunder testing at Daytona International Speedway on January 11, 2013
Photo – Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
After several reports floating around on social media throughout the day, NBC Sports, Executive Producer Sam Flood made it official that they and Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Steve Letarte have reached an agreement for him to join NBC’s multi-platform NASCAR coverage beginning in 2015. The announcement is followed by a media conference scheduled for 8:30 am ET Friday at Daytona International Speedway, when more details will be discussed.
“I’ve always been impressed with Steve Letarte’s interviews, and feel smarter after hearing him break down the crucial elements of each race,” said Flood. “It wasn’t long into our first meeting about this potential role on our broadcast team when I realized that Steve is going to be ‘Must See TV.'”
Steve Letarte joins fellow analyst Jeff Burton and race announcer Rick Allen across NBC Sports Group’s exclusive coverage of NASCAR’s Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series action on NBC and NBCSN, which includes races, pre- and post-race shows, qualifying, and studio programming.
“As soon as I met with Sam Flood and his team at NBC Sports it became obvious to me how excited they are to be covering NASCAR in 2015 and beyond. Their excitement, along with my love for racing, solidified my decision to move away from the pit box and into the broadcast booth,” said Letarte. “I want to thank Rick Hendrick and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports for the opportunities they have given me over the last 18 years, and I want to reaffirm my commitment to Dale Jr and the entire 88 team to go win races and challenge for the championship in 2014.”
Letarte has worked for Hendrick Motorsports since he was 16 years-old. In 1996, after graduating from high school early, he started traveling with the No. 24 race team, driven by Jeff Gordon, as a full-time mechanic and tire specialist. His impressive work ethic moved him up the ranks quickly, assuming the role of car chief in 2002, and then crew chief for the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion in 2005 when Steve was 26. After five successful seasons with the No. 24 team, Letarte moved to a new challenge by joining Hendrick’s No. 88 team with Dale Earnhardt Jr for the 2011 season. Together they went on to capture the pole at the Daytona 500 and qualify for the Chase – the first time for Earnhardt since his 2008 season. In 2012, Letarte and Earnhardt combined for their first win on Father’s Day at Michigan. Throughout the 2013 season, the No. 88 team competed in the top-ten in points and again, made the Chase. Steve and his wife, Tricia, live in North Carolina with their two children.