Letarte signs contract extension with Hendrick
Friday, Jul. 30, 2010
LONG POND, Pa. – Hendrick Motorsports is the only company from which Steve Letarte has ever received a paycheck.
And he will do so at least three more seasons.
The Hendrick organization announced Friday at Pocono Raceway that it had agreed to a three-year contract extension with Letarte, currently the crew chief of Jeff Gordon’s No. 24 Chevrolets.
Letarte’s new deal comes after Hendrick announced contract extensions earlier this season for crew chiefs Alan Gustafson and Chad Knaus.
"I've worked here since I was a teen-ager and they have provided wonderful opportunities for me," Letarte said. "When you have a sport like this one – it reminds me a lot of college football – there is a lot of money involved, there is a lot of sponsors involved, it is a very high-pressure situation.
"Rick (Hendrick) is the kind of guy where a handshake would be good enough for most of us, but that's what the sport has become."
Since Letarte was named Gordon's crew chief in September 2005, Gordon has led the Cup series in top-five finishes with 77. Teammate Jimmie Johnson is second with 76.
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