Visitation for celebrated short-track stock-car crew chief Howie Lettow, who died Thursday, is scheduled for 5:30-9 p.m. Monday at Hafemeister Funeral Home, 611 E. Main St. in Watertown, WI. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 304 N. 6th St. in Watertown. One of the most respected crew chiefs in the Midwest, Lettow guided eight drivers to rookie of the year honors in the old American Speed Association and won three consecutive championships from 2005-’07 in the ASA Late Model Challenge Series. Lettow rejected offers from NASCAR teams, saying he preferred a comfortable family life to a larger paycheck, but his influence was still felt. At least eight drivers who worked regularly with Lettow went on to race full time in one of NASCAR’s three national series, including Johnson and 2003 truck series champion Ted Musgrave. In addition to his wife, Cheryl, survivors include son John and daughter Carin Eckes, son-in-law Jeremy Eckes and grandchildren Morgan and Jered Eckes. According to Cheryl, ESPN plans to do a piece on Howie at about 4:30 p.m. Friday with interviews with Tony Raines, who won the 1996 American Speed Association title with Lettow, and four-time defending NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, Lettow’s most famous pupil.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)(8-23-2010)
