If you didn’t pay much attention to Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s performance last Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, you weren’t alone. Earnhardt struggled early and wasn’t a factor in the outcome of the race.
However, to crew chief Steve Letarte, the performance of the No. 88 team — from the driver to the crew on pit road — had enormous significance.
“We got down early, we were running in the 20s, and we came back to finish seventh,” Letarte told the NASCAR Wire Service on Saturday. “We proved last week that this team is ready for the Chase. No one is going to have 10 great races in the Chase, so it’s what you do with the days that aren’t great that makes the difference.”
Latest posts by NASCAR Wire Service (see all)
- NASCAR WIRE: Weekend Preview: Talladega Superspeedway - April 18, 2024
- Journey back to the top has brought Elliott and the No. 9 team closer - April 16, 2024
- Chase Elliott wins in double overtime, snaps 42-race winless streak at Texas - April 15, 2024