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In a recent episode of The Dale Jr Download, former Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Steve Letarte was the special guest. During his NASCAR tenure, he was the crew chief of Dale Earnhardt Jr from 2011 to 2014. So it was great to see the two ex-HMS alumni reuniting and reliving their time as teammates. Among other subjects, Letarte opened up on some regrets he did have while working alongside Dale Jr.

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Talking with Dale Jr and Mike Davis, Letarte said, “I will say it, the one thing—I have very few regrets of Dale and I’s time together—the one thing that, if I could go back. We’d never won at Talladega together.

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I got two at Talladega, two at Martinsville with two different drivers, and three at Pocono. Somebody swept it, guy across the table. Took them both in the same year.”

READ MORE: Days After $400 Million Worth Dale Earnhardt Jr Celebrated Their Success, the Couple Add Another Accolade to Their Growing Collection

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Dale Earnhardt Jr had a fruitful liaison with Steve Letarte

In all, Dale Earnhardt Jr mustered five wins during his Steve Letarte era. The first one was at the Michigan International Speedway in 2012, and the other four came in 2014. Those particular wins included his second career Daytona 500, two wins in Pocono, and one win at Martinsville. All five wins added to his tally of 26 career Cup Series triumphs.

As for Letarte, he retired from the position of crew chief after the 2014 Cup Series campaign. Since then, he has taken on the role of commentator and analyst for NBC Sports. Additionally, he acts as a consultant for the Spire Motorsports team in the Cup and the Truck Series.

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Now, both Earnhardt Jr and Letarte will be looking ahead to the ongoing 2023 Cup campaign. Already, the season is looking very exciting with a number of strong contenders. As a commentator himself, Dale Earnhardt Jr has also been enjoying the season and seeing how everything unfolds.

WATCH THIS STORY: Denny Hamlin Slams Cancel Culture After Ex-NASCAR Driver Pointed Out the Dale Sr. Hypocrisy in Ross Chastain Controversy

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Dhruv George

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Dhruv George is EssentiallySports’ foremost authority on motorsport and a founding member of the outlet’s NASCAR desk. A Journalism graduate fluent in English and French, he brings over eight years of motorsports journalism experience covering everything from high-octane NASCAR battles to the finesse of Formula 1 and MotoGP. His extensive paddock access has earned him exclusive interviews with top names such as F1’s Pierre Gasly and Moto2’s Tony Arbolino, cementing his reputation as a trusted voice among racing fans. Known for his candid opinions, Dhruv isn’t afraid to tackle contentious officiating calls, most recently defending Joey Logano after the DYL penalty in Phoenix. Before focusing on NASCAR as a Senior Writer, Dhruv contributed extensively to EssentiallySports’ coverage of F1 and NASCAR, building a versatile and impactful sports portfolio.

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Nischal Kandpal

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