Braden Surprenant catches up with former NASCAR Cup Series crew chief and current Amazon Prime, TNT and NBC analyst Steve Letarte to preview NASCAR's first-ever race at Naval Air Station Coronado and discuss his incredible journey through the sport.
Letarte, who collected 15 NASCAR Cup Series victories as a crew chief and won the 2014 Daytona 500 with Dale Earnhardt Jr., talks about NASCAR's return to Southern California and why San Diego is such a perfect fit for the sport. He explains the excitement surrounding the event and how NASCAR's relationship with the military makes racing on Naval Air Station Coronado especially meaningful.
Steve also reflects on his own path into racing, from growing up around short tracks with his father to joining Hendrick Motorsports at just 15 years old. He shares stories about working with Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. and explains how he went from sweeping floors to becoming one of the top crew chiefs in NASCAR before transitioning into broadcasting.
With San Diego's brand-new street course presenting an unknown challenge, Steve breaks down how teams prepare for a track nobody has raced before. He talks about changing track conditions, simulator work, and the unique characteristics of the Coronado circuit that will test even the sport's best drivers.
Listen to Braden's full interview with Steve Letarte below!
