Steve Letarte has some of his friends wondering if he's learned how to reverse the aging process.

Conjecture indicates the 31-year-old Hendrick Motorsports crew chief has discovered the fountain of youth and some in the rumor-rampant NASCAR garage even believe that Letarte is actually Benjamin Button.

Huh?

“

We've talked about how we are going to be great and this weight loss is not just a good sales pitch ...

”

-- STEVE LETARTE

Letarte is magical atop the No. 24 pit box, yes. But, no he's not actually magical. He is -- on the other hand -- looking great and feeling even better after losing more than 50 pounds recently.

"I've had people tell me I look like I did the day I got married," said Letarte, who married his wife Tricia almost 10 years ago, hence the fountain of youth reference. "It's the best compliment I've ever received."

Jokes aside, Letarte has done more than just shed some unwanted weight accrued back in 2007. He's changed his life and as a result changed the way the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet team views its leader, driver Jeff Gordon included.

They see Letarte as having a greater sense of dedication and desire to win.

"This isn't just about appearance. It's more than that," Letarte said. "The team has seen my confidence with the car and Jeff sees my weight loss as just another level of my commitment to the team. Because of it, my enthusiasm level is as high now as it was in February at Daytona."

While the team is enjoying the new and improved Letarte, they are not what fueled his transformation, which began last fall.

His wake-up call was, like so many others', was at the doctor's office.

Nearing the end of last season, his physician conducted a routine physical and blood work. He concluded that Letarte was at-risk for stroke and potential heart disease.

"Stressful job, check, don't eat right, check," Letarte said. "And those were just the two I could control." (Continued)