NASCAR great discusses who’ll win Daytona, Cup playoff puzzle, Netflix docuseries, more

Steve Letarte contends that ending the regular season at Daytona International Speedway is “what makes NASCAR great.”

Perhaps it’s because he, as a longtime and successful crew chief in the sport, has won at Daytona before. Or perhaps... he’s simply right.

The summer race around the 2.5-mile track is slated for 7:30 p.m. Saturday. It’ll be televised on NBC. To get ready for the Cup Series’ regular-season finale, here’s a brief discussion about the current story lines of the Cup Series between Charlotte Observer reporter Alex Zietlow and Letarte, who also commentates for NBC.

The interview is lightly edited for clarity and brevity.

Chase Elliott a favorite? Guess so

Zietlow: I know you’re a betting odds guy. Chase Elliott opened as the favorite this weekend at Daytona at 11-1 odds. Do you agree with him being the favorite? Do you think that betting line is fair? What do you think?

Letarte: Listen, I wouldn’t take anyone going to a superspeedway race at 10- or 11-1. Do I think Chase is a favorite heading here this weekend? No, I don’t. I don’t know how somebody could make the assumption that he’s the favorite. I think there are other people who have more consistent superspeedway numbers. But superspeedway racing — I’m not going to call it “roulette” because I think that discounts the skill set of the drivers — but it’s hard to pick a favorite when they are so dependent on other people helping, and they’re dependent on avoiding other people’s messes. It’s very hard.

AZ: OK so you don’t think Chase is the favorite. Who does Steve Letarte think is the favorite?

SL: I don’t think there is a favorite. I mean, why not, I’ll take the guy who’s won the most races. William Byron has won five races. You’ve won five out of 25, you’re going to be my favorite heading down there. I really believe that. What makes this be such an amazing final race of the regular season — what makes this work better than any other race put in this position — is that I can list a lot of drivers I can absolutely see in Victory Lane. And we can’t do that at other tracks. And we can’t do that at other tracks. Like if we were at Richmond or Kansas or Michigan, I think the list is smaller.

But when we go to Daytona, the list is quite large. There are seven drivers currently outside the playoffs that have won at either Daytona or Talladega. So I think that makes for a really exciting build-up for Saturday night.

AZ: So we’ve spent a lot of time talking about Hendrick Motorsports drivers. To the lay person, you say, “OK, Hendrick Motorsports is the winningest team in NASCAR. They were dominant at the beginning of this year. And now they’re in a tough position, with two drivers (Elliott and Alex Bowman) heading into Daytona winless.” Is there a way to concisely explain how strange it is that HMS is in this position?

SL: I mean, listen, it happens. But it is strange. And the circumstances are strange. We had both drivers out due to injury. But they’ve also both had other issues associated. The 48 team (Bowman) had a 60-point penalty, which has definitely hampered their issues. And Chase had a one-race suspension. So you can’t separate them. They’re not mutually exclusive. They all add together. But for sure, it’s strange. I think “strange” is a great way to look at it. It’s not a team that we would expect to be in this position. But I think what we have this weekend — while it may disappoint fans because a lot like Chase, and a lot like Alex Bowman — it’s what makes NASCAR great. There’s no script. It’s sports. What makes sports the best television is that anything can happen.

AZ: Bubba Wallace, in the midst of his sixth year in Cup racing, hasn’t yet made a playoff appearance. Is this the year when that drought ends?

SL: Bubba Wallace is my pick to move forward. And it purely comes off because of the Bubba Wallace we’ve seen over the last four or five weeks. He has a remarkable amount of talent. He self-admittedly he has to be mentally tougher and stronger behind the wheel at times, and I think that’s exactly what I’ve seen. His driving at the last two road courses — which are not his strengths — have been remarkable. What I see is a driver turning the corner, in my opinion.

Three quick ones: Netflix, Next Gen car, NASCAR’s next villain

AZ: Awesome. OK, real quick, three questions not related to Daytona. Number 1: How would you assess the Next Gen car in its second year?

SL: I would say the Next Gen car has been really, really good. It’s had its issues. Nothing in the world is going to be perfect. When I look at the Next Gen car, I think of the high-speed ovals — the mile, mile and a half, two-mile stuff — I think they’re great. I think the road course racing, the short-track racing, are at the top of everybody’s list to try to improve the entertainment product. I think that could be done in a multitude of ways. I don’t think it’s just on the car. ... But I’ve been very pleased with it. I see some of the closest fields I’ve ever seen in practice and in qualifying, some of the closest field in the race. And while we don’t have quite the vast number of winners we had last year, I still see a great variety in winners. And I think that’s really the key, showcasing a variety of talent.

AZ: It was announced that Netflix is doing a documentary on NASCAR, and they’re starting to film it in the postseason. (The announcement also said that Dale Earnhardt Jr., who Letarte crew chiefed for, will be an executive producer, and that it’ll be made by the same people who created the popular Michael Jordan docuseries, “The Last Dance.”) What are your general thoughts on that?

SL: Well, I’m a big fan of the F1 docuseries. I’m a big fan of Full Swing, the PGA docuseries. I know it’s on the same platform, but i don’t know if it’s the same people directing, producing, creating — what I’ve learned about TV is it takes an amazing group of people to put television on. So I can’t speak to if this is or isn’t the same group, or how it’s going to be done, or I don’t know any of that. But I think any chance a sports fan can get to know the figures in the sport better — to like them more or to not like them more — it’s great. To see them as human beings, more than just race car drivers.

AZ: Who is the bigger villain in NASCAR at the moment? Ross Chastain, who caused a bunch of stirs early in the season, or Denny Hamlin, who has done his fair share of antagonizing later in the season?

SL: I don’t know if we have a predominant villain. Listen: Ross is not afraid to be himself behind the wheel, whether popular or unpopular. And I think Denny Hamlin has found a way to not be afraid to give his opinion, whether it’s on his podcast, as a driver, or as a team owner. And I think all of that is good for NASCAR. I’m a big believer that the more fans have an opinion about a driver — good or bad — that’s a good thing. The fans are the lifeblood of any sport, and it’s no different in NASCAR. So whether they’re cheering excitement, or booing in disagreement, I’m kind of OK with all of that. It’s just a problem when you become silent.

AZ: OK I know I said three more and this is four, but very last one, promise. I’m looking at the opening odds for this weekend. There are five drivers who open with 20-1 odds, and I’d like you to choose the one that you’d go with. Those drivers: Ross Chastain, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Kyle Larson, Daniel Suárez, Bubba Wallace.

SL: Well I’m a big statistics guy. So that’s what I would go off from. I would have to say that Daniel Suárez has only won at Sonoma. So he’s probably not. Ross Chastain has won at Talladega. Stenhouse won the 500 in the spring. Bubba’s been pretty good. I’d tell a fan that whoever one of those they feel good about cheering for, that’s the one I would pick. The beauty about gambling is it should add to your entertainment value. Race fans, if you want to be a part of this wager, I would wager on whatever driver you feel like cheering on in front of your friends. That’s the magic of the gaming and gambling addition to sports.

AZ: Great, diplomatic answer (laughs). Thanks for your time and enjoy Daytona.

SL: Great, thank you.