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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. is admittedly scared by the daunting task of replacing crew chief Steve Letarte. Hell leave it up to team owner Rick Hendrick and management at Hendrick Motorsports, and theyve got the entire season to find a new crew chief. Letarte was formally introduced Friday as the third and final member of NBC Sports Groups broadcast booth for its NASCAR coverage beginning in 2015. Earnhardt and Letarte have been paired since 2011. Although the duo has just one win together, theyve made the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship the past three seasons. More important, Letarte rebuilt the confidence in NASCARs most popular driver and instilled a structure around Earnhardt that the driver admits raised his professionalism in the race car. "The one thing that I fear is just trying to get a guy in there thats equally as talented," Earnhardt said Friday at Daytona International Speedway. "Steve is a great cheerleader and definitely built up my confidence and changed me as a race car driver and as a person. Working with him has really helped me grow. I think that my fear is can we replace Steve?" Earnhardt brought cousin Tony Eury Jr. with him to Hendrick Motorsports in 2008. When that working relationship fractured, Hendrick replaced Eury with longtime company man Lance McGrew. Only that combination failed to produce results, so Earnhardt was paired with former Jeff Gordon crew chief Letarte when Hendrick made a massive organizational shake-up shortly after the 2010 season ended. Letartes influence on Earnhardt was immediate, so Earnhardt will once again put his trust in Hendrick. Hell also want Letarte and Jimmie Johnsons six-time championship winning crew chief Chad Knaus to be part of the decision making. Knaus works side-by-side with Earnhardts crew chief, so Earnhardt believes Knaus needs to have input. "It was Rick and upper management that decided to put me with Steve," Earnhardt said. "I didnt know exactly what was going to happen, but I just wanted to trust their judgment, and thats what Im going to do again. "I would love to have input from Chad Knaus and Steve. I think that Steve knows what makes this team work. Steve knows how I can be successful and how the individuals within the team can be successful. Its important that Chad has got a lot of influence because he knows how well the shop works together and what the culture is in the shop and how a guy, a particular guy may mesh in that environment." Letarte, meanwhile, finds himself in the unique position of entering his final season atop the pit box under an intensified spotlight to perform. Earnhardts popularity already brings immense attention and pressure to the No. 88 team, and with Letartes end-of-year exit looming, fans could be particularly harsh about results. Letarte believes it will be business as usual. "I think what makes this situation unique is Im not going to crew chief for another organization," he said. "Im not working on being a broadcaster in 2014, Im working on filling a trophy case, and to do that we have to win our first race." Letarte and Earnhardt first discussed the NBC opportunity in October, when Earnhardt heard rumours and summoned Letarte to his motorhome to discuss the whispers, and Letarte kept his driver involved as he weighed his decisions. Ultimately, after 19 years in the garage, it was the ability to spend more time with his two children that made the NBC job more attractive than continuing as a crew chief. "I dont think Ive ever hidden it from anyone that my family has always been my No. 1 priority," Letarte said. "If it comes down to if Im going to be unsuccessful in anything I do, being a father shouldnt be on the list. So Im going to put that one first, and this allows me to put that one first and still be in a sport that I love and join a great team." Earnhardt can respect that. "For me personally, it was difficult. And the more I sat down with him and talked about it, the more it made sense and the more I understood his situation, and I could put my own selfishness aside and kind of understand what was important to him and how this was good for him," Earnhardt said. "He deserves these opportunities and hes earned it." Cheap Adidas Shoes Australia .com) - John Wall supplied 24 points and 11 assists in leading the Washington Wizards to a 102-91 win over the New York Knicks on Christmas Day. 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Simmonds scored in the first period and twice more in the second for his first career post-season hat trick. Mason survived a busy first period and stopping 31 straight shots until Carl Hagelin scored late in the third.Charlotte, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Cam Newton accounted for two touchdowns and the Carolina Panthers picked up a crucial win to set up a winner-take-all NFC South showdown next week. Newtons 9-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Stewart in the fourth quarter was the difference, and Carolina topped the Cleveland Browns, 17-13, on Sunday. The scoring strike to Stewart, which capped a 7-play, 66-yard drive, came less than three minutes after the Browns took their first lead on Brian Hoyers 81- yard touchdown pass to tight end Jordan Cameron. Hoyer replaced Johnny Manziel late in the first half after the rookie exited with a hamstring injury. The Panthers (6-8-1) will travel to Atlanta next week with the division on the line. Whoever wins that game will not only clinch the NFC South, but will also host a playoff game. The Falcons beat New Orleans to eliminate the Saints from postseason contention. Newton, who missed the last game following a car accident, completed 18-of-31 for 201 yards while rushing 12 times for 63. Stewart gained 122 yards on the ground for the Panthers, winners in three straight games. Manziel, whose struggles were well documented in his first career start last week, didnt fare any better on Sunday. He completed 3-for-8 passes for 32 yards before Hoyer came in. Hoyer, who started the first 14 games of the season, went 7-for-13 for 134 yards with a touchdown and an interception in relief. The Browns (7-8) were officially eliminated from the postseason. A puzzling decision by Newton midway through the third quarter gave Cleveland life. On 3rd-and-7 from the Browns 36, Newton danced around the pocket and kept the play alive beffore running across the field and wobbling a short pass to no one in particular.dddddddddddd. Defensive end Billy Winn made a diving interception. Cleveland turned the interception into a 31-yard Garrett Hartley field goal, and Carolinas lead was down to 10-6. Early in the fourth, Carolina appeared to catch a break when it kept possession despite consecutive fumbles. Newton coughed up the ball on first down and lineman Byron Bell pounced on it. Then, Philly Brown appeared to lose a fumble on a reverse, but the Panthers challenged the play and Brown was ruled down. A punt two plays later pinned the Browns on their own 15-yard line but on 3rd- and-1, Hoyer hooked up with Cameron for the longest touchdown pass of his career. The Panthers retook the lead on Stewarts touchdown reception, and his 30-yard run just after the two-minute warning sealed the game. The Browns went three-and-out on two of Manziels first three possessions. The lone sustained drive went 55 yards in 10 plays and ended with a 43-yard field goal by Hartley. Graham Gano made up for an earlier miss and opened the scoring with a 23-yard field goal at 2:47 of the first quarter. Hartleys kick tied the game at 3-3, and Newtons 2-yard touchdown run late in the first half gave Carolina a 10-3 lead at the break. Game Notes Newton improved to 4-1 against former Heisman trophy winning quarterbacks ... Cleveland played without starting cornerbacks Joe Haden (right shoulder) and Justin Gilbert (concussion) ... Hoyers TD pass was the first Browns passing touchdown since Nov. 16 ... The Browns have lost 11 straight games in December and January. ' ' '