For Steve Letarte working as the crew chief for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will bring far more criticism than when he worked with Jeff Gordon.
Hendrick Motorsports major crew chief overhaul happened just days after winning their fifth consecutive title.
While some might wait until next season or wait until right before the new season, owner Rick Hendrick moves were deliberate.
Gordon and Earnhardt virtually switched shops. Gordon is teamed up in the now named “24/5” shop and with new crew chief Alan Gustafson.
Earnhardt is now in the same building of Chad Knaus and Jimmie Johnson.
Hendrick has literally given Johnson to Earnhardt on a silver platter. He will have all the same information; he will have even more access to Knaus and that entire brain trust.
The problem is you can change a building and switch cars numbers but you have to change the mentality.
For Earnhardt he has been down so long, you have to find a way to change the attitude.
With the news of the switch Earnhardt has said that he is excited for the season and what they can do together. It is a far cry from the things that have been said the last two years.
At times Earnhardt’s frustration was evident and you couldn’t help but feel for the guy. He is trying to live up to an expectation he didn’t ask for. Trying to carry on the name of his father and leave his own mark on the sport.
It’s a task many of us would not want and Earnhardt has done his best to carry that on his shoulders.
LeTarte needs to change the environment around Earnhardt. He can’t control the fans or the media and what they say. He can control the in house environment.
He needs to build back up the confidence Earnhardt has had not only in himself but his team.
In the former 24/48 shop the expectations were always high and your best was expected. Earnhardt doesn’t need a buddy or someone to tell him to sit down and shut up.
He needs someone to tell him what they are doing to the car and how it will affect the next run. Gordon would say this is what the car is doing but LeTarte would take small steps in that direction.
LeTarte would then tell Gordon why he made those changes and what he expects the track to do. Wrong or right the explanation was always there.
Earnhardt knows what he needs in the car; he knows the feel of a race car. He has won 18 races in his career. He didn’t just wake up one day and decide to race. The talent is there. The will to be successful is there but now they have to find a way to utilize that.
They have to have a fast start this season and they can’t afford to run 15th place and not contend for wins.
They need to block out all the talk, criticism and comments. Earnhardt knows what people say and think, but he doesn’t need to appear like he believes them.
I am sure they are not sitting and reading every article and comment out there but somehow and someway they hear things.
LeTarte is the perfect guy to get him back on track just because he knows what it is like to crew chief a driver expected to win and win often.
He wasn’t moved by the fans and media’s criticism of his job with Gordon. He didn’t feel the need to please anybody in the media when they questioned a call.
Finally, there needs to be open communication. Earnhardt needs to take advantage of the in-house resources of Knaus and Johnson.
Earnhardt before the switch had access to all the information and data but now he is right next door. He should take advantage of the feedback from Knaus and Johnson.
These two are the best in the business at ignoring all the criticism and just getting it done.
Earnhardt’s success this season rides a lot on his relationship with LeTarte. Also, on whether or not he can find that confidence that his fans love about him.
My mom used to tell us “The only way you can be successful if you believe it first.” For Earnhardt and that entire team they have to believe it first.
Photo: Ronald Martinez, Getty Images
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