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    Steve Letarte talked about Vegas & the off season on Sirius XM this morning Archived Message

    Posted by magic8ball on 12/5/2011, 9:30 am

    Steve Letarte called into the Morning Drive today with Mike Bagley and Pete Pistone. Steve said he is working away this morning at the shop. He went out to Vegas and had fun seeing everyone get their awards. Now it is time to get back to work.

    Mike asked if the banquet was a year ending exhale to sit down and have a good time. Steve said any time he can spend time with Dale, he enjoys it especially away from the track. Steve said he and his wife Trish spent time with Dale and his girlfriend Amy. It was good and it was a big goal to make the top 10. They got to see a lot of important sponsors. There were from reps from HMS and they got to thank them for their continued support. It was exciting to finally put an exclamation point on the year.

    Pete gave congrats on making the Chase and being in the top 10 as that was a big goal Steve set at the beginning of the year. It was a big accomplishment too. Steve said when you pull up the points from 2011, it is a pretty impressive list. Sport is not getting easier. Steve is proud of the guys at the shop, the road crew and pit crew. It was a huge accomplishment for the 88 team. Steve said they had a good car at Homestead and they had speed. It was a good way to finish up the year.

    Mike asked about pit crew tryouts and how that is going. Steve said it has been very busy as it is a competition sport. He thinks they have a good crew of guys but with layoffs from other teams, you are forced to evaluate your team. There will be some changes. Some guys have chosen to do other things. They have some young up and coming guys too. Also have some guys that have been there a long time but will no longer be on the pit crew. Tweeks to road guys here and there. Normal off season occurance.

    Pete asked what things they are looking forward to with Kasey and Kenny coming on board. Steve said what they love about bringing fresh ideas to the shop is that they have a lot of self grown talent so they all live in the same box. Steve said with a guy like Kenny, he can give different ideas and how to apply them. They had great car in Homestead and Kenny was apparently on the same path a little bit with some of the same things. They hope to move forward with some of those concepts and ideas.

    Pete asked how fast Kenny and Kasey moved over after the season ended. Steve said they moved over after Thanksgiving. They moved into the shop but Steve has not seen him yet since he was in Vegas. They have talked a lot on the phone. They are pressing forward now for 2012.

    Pete recently wrote about Jr being the comeback driver of the year and asked Steve what he thought made the turn around this year. Steve said he can tell us it is a group of guys that believe in the driver and crew chief. Steve said his guys would work 24 hours a day , test anywhere in the country and do anything he asked them to do. Steve said Dale feels that belief. Dale has more confidence in his team because they have confidence in him. Chad and JJ were excellent supporters of the 88 team too and helped anytime they could. He feels Dale is much closer to the 48 and 24 in points and next year their goal is for a win.

    Mike asked trust and how long it took to build with Dale. Steve said you build that every day and it never ends. Relationships are very important in life. Steve will be married 10 years this month and he realizes how important it is to continue to work on that relationship. His wife is his best friend and partner in this whole deal. He know how much they have worked over 10 years to stay best friends. It is the same way with your driver. You have to make sure the relationship is a priority. Races come and go every weekend. Dale knows Steve will do anything for him and vice versa. When Dale doesn’t give him his best, he tells Steve. Steve also tells him when he is not on his best. When you start to admit fault and take credit for the good and the bad, that is where trust is built. They had a great first year together and looking forward to next year.

    Pete said he also has been married for 10 years or what his wife calls the 2 best years of her life LOL. Steve laughed and said that is why the off season is so important. Vegas was fun and they went with no kids but missed them very much. Family vacation in a next weeks. Time to recharge the batteries. He is also coaching his son’s basketball team this winter.

    Pete asked how far ahead are things for the 88 camp. Steve said they have 2 speedway cars done and working on a third. With the 500 pushed back next year, the whole season will have a different signature to it he said. What you normally get done in Dec, can be pushed to Jan. You have a little more time for personal changes and team tweeks. While Daytona is coming quickly, that time after the Daytona test will be used to improve the rest of their equipment. Currently cars in Arizona today for some testing. Nothing is better than sitting on the front row in Daytona and hope to be there again. Might get okay to test in Nashville too but they are waiting to hear.

    Pete gave the Muppets movie two thumbs up. Steve said they rented the Muppets on Saturday evening post Vegas and the time change for him and his wife got them. He said the kids watched it but they were asleep on the couch next to them. Steve on vacation next week so he might not call. He is not sure if he will get to call again before the holidays but he wishes everyone a Merry Christmas. He will talk to us again early January and get going for next year.



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