FROM ARCARACING.COM
Eddie Sharp Racing's Patrick Donahue
Featured on ARCARACING.com's 30 at 30 Show

TOLEDO OH (March 19, 2009) -Scott Speed lost the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series championship in the final moments of the final race at Toledo Speedway. An on-track altercation with fellow championship contender Rick Stenhouse, Jr. eliminated both from the title mix. If it was just another day at the races for Speed, it was certainly not for his Eddie Sharp Racing team, which was literally devastated by the outcome.

But if there was a silver lining in the overall picture, it may have been for Speed's crew chief Patrick Donahue, who, despite the disappointment, still captured the '08 Cometic Crew Chief of the Year award. It was the first time since 1999 that someone other than Bill Kimmel earned the honors.

Losing out on the overall national championship title was, however, still a tough pill to swallow.

"I would be lying if I said it still didn't bother me," said Donahue, who was, at the time of this interview, preparing to test with rookie driver Craig Goess at Salem Speedway. "I won't ever get over it; I've learned to deal with it, but it still bothers me.

"Our team worked so hard for that. To see 10 months of work gone in one race is not easy to comprehend. It was way worse than losing the racecar, although that didn't please me much either.

"The crew chief title was certainly special - we earned that. I mean, it was the first time in a long time when someone other than Bill (Kimmel) won it, so yah; that was a big deal for us. We can take that with us."

In the end, and after leading the points most of the year, Donahue and the ESR team went from first to fifth in points. This, all on the heels of 2007 when Donahue crew-chiefed Michael McDowell to second place in ARCA RE/MAX Series point standings.

Donahue and Scott Speed

"I want this in the worst way (to win the championship). I want it for myself, my guys, for Eddie (Sharp/Team Owner). Eddie deserves this title. He's invested enough here over the years, and he's committed himself to this deal."

Donahue's ARCA RE/MAX Series championship desires are admirable to say the least, especially considering where he's already been.

Donahue, who was born and raised in South Portland, Maine, moved to North Carolina fresh out of high school and went to work for Hendrick Motorsports from 1993 through 2000. Donahue worked directly with Jeff Gordon's Dupont team during which time the team won three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships. At the end of 1998, Ray Evernham and Gordon started a Nationwide Series team.

"Ray let me crew chief the Nationwide car; we won in our sixth race out at Phoenix in '99."

Donahue: "I'm used to building my own cars. In NASCAR, there's a guy for every job. Here, I get to set-up my own cars"

From Hendrick Motorsports, Donahue went to work fulltime for Evernham before taking Brian Vickers Nationwide racing in 2001 and 2002. Braun Racing's Nationwide team would occupy his time after that before briefly going to work with Robby Gordon when Gordon started his Cup team. From there, Donahue went back to work for Evernham on Erin Crocker's Truck team.

And after all that, Donahue finds himself gainfully employed with ESR in the ARCA RE/MAX Series world. Like a lot of guys who have shifted from the high profile world of NASCAR into the ARCA Nation, he's completely okay with it.

"I like it here. I don't miss being gone every weekend. I love going home to my kids, and you get to do that a lot more here.

"The eagles aren't out in this garage like they are on the other side. For the most part, everyone seems happy here, like they want to be here. The ARCA Series is very competitive, and I enjoy everyone's company. The first race my son is going to see will be at Salem, and I'm okay with that; in fact, I like it."

The ARCA RE/MAX Series also reminds Donahue of how things used to be.

"Racing was way different back then," added Donahue, referring to his earliest days at Hendrick Motorsports.

"We worked 15, 18 hours a day, seven days a week putting cars back together. They'd wreck ‘em and we had to fix ‘em.

"That's one thing that I like about the ARCA Series. I grew up building and working on cars. I'm used to building my own cars. In NASCAR, there's a guy for every job. Here, I get to set-up my own cars - that part I really like. If we need to put a snout on a car, I can do that. If we need to build a seat, I can do that too. What needs done, we get to do.

"I only wished the series got more respect. In my time, I hope it gets the respect it deserves. I like it here; and I think there are a lot of people that like it here. To me, it's no less of a challenge. The racing here is very competitive, and a win is still a win - it feels just as good.

"I'm not sure what my long term plan is here, but with or without me, I just wish the respect would come that this series deserves."

Donahue, who will be crew chiefing the no. 81 Greenville Toyota-sponsored Toyota for rookie Craig Goess in 2009, is part of a four-car team prepared from the shops of Eddie Sharp Racing.

Donahue will also be the featured guest on '30 at 30' Friday, March 20 at 3:30 PM ET.

"30 at 30", a live on-line chat show at arcaracing.com, airs Monday through Friday at 3:30 PM ET featuring a different personality each day from the world of the ARCA RE/MAX Series.