Drivers, crew chiefs will transition to new roles in 2015
RELATED: Driver, crew chief changes for 2015
HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Steve Letarte began his career at Hendrick Motorsports as a 16-year-old floor sweeper.
Today, he climbs atop the pit box of the organization's No. 88 Chevrolet for the final time as crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
"It was great that I got to work with him," Earnhardt said after the team's win at Martinsville Speedway. "He turned my career around. He put a great team together. What he's accomplished is impressive as hell. I'm overwhelmed with what he's been able to do.
"He put me in Victory Lane. The team he's assembled, (an) incredible group. That's all Steve. He seems to have evolved into one of the best crew chiefs in the garage."
Headed to the broadcast booth next year to work with NBC Sports, Letarte has won 15 times at the Cup level, with drivers Jeff Gordon and Earnhardt Jr.
The Ford EcoBoost 400 is the season-ending race for NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series, and Letarte is one of several folks in the garage here at Homestead-Miami Speedway preparing for a new role in 2015.
Among other changes scheduled to take place:
• Over in the Roush-Fenway Racing camp, driver Carl Edwards will make his final start in the No. 99 Ford. RFR has been the Sprint Cup Series home for Edwards since 2004. Next season, he'll move to Joe Gibbs Racing where he will join drivers Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Matt Kenseth.
• Veteran crew chief Jimmy Fennig, Edwards' crew chief, will also change positions, coming down off the pit box following a long and successful career in the sport. One of the most respected crew chiefs in the garage, Fennig (pictured) is expected to remain with RFR in some capacity. Fennig won 40 races and the first Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in 2004 with Kurt Busch.
• RFR will remain a three-team organization on the Sprint Cup level as Trevor Bayne will begin competing full-time for the group in 2015. Bayne won the 2011 Daytona 500 with Wood Brothers Racing, for whom he has competed on a limited basis.
• A change in crew chiefs is also expected for the No. 21 Wood Brothers team as the legendary organization ends a relationship with fellow Ford group RFR to align with Team Penske. Current crew chief Donnie Wingo has led five drivers to seven wins at the Sprint Cup level, however his 2015 plans have not been announced.
• It's the final ride for Marcos Ambrose, driver of the Richard Petty Motorsports No. 9 Ford on Sunday as well. Ambrose will head back to his native homeland of Australia to resume a career in the V8 Supercar Series. Former Team Penske driver Sam Hornish Jr. will step into the No. 9 seat for RPM next season. In Sunday's drivers' meeting, NASCAR President Mike Helton saluted Ambrose, saying, "We wish you the best of luck as you go back Down Under. Come back and see us any time."
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