HOMESTEAD FL (11-21-09) - The 2009 ARCA race season may have ended, but not so much for veteran crew chief Patrick Donahue.

Donahue, the 2008 Cometic Crew Chief of the Year, wrapped up his third fulltime season in the ARCA garage in October at Rockingham, then headed off toward familiar territory in the NASCAR Nationwide Series garage to complete the year.

Donahue has been crew chiefing for Josh Wise in late-season Nationwide events at Texas Motor Speedway and Phoenix Int'l Raceway. "Josh Wise called me before Texas and asked me if I'd come over and help him go to Texas and Phoenix," said Donahue, who also finds himself turning wrenches for rookie Chase Austin this weekend in the Nationwide finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Donahue/Austin duo is a combined effort of XXXtreme Motorsports owner John Cohen and MacHill Motorsports.

The event at Homestead will be Austin's only second attempt on a 1.5-mile intermediate track.

However, Donahue should feel right at home as he's been grooming rookies with a high level of success in ARCA over the last three seasons. Donahue crew chiefed Michael McDowell to second in ARCA points as a rookie in 2007 before teaming with driver Scott Speed (above) in 2008. Both drivers have moved on to the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series. Donahue also crew-chiefed rookie Craig Goess to fifth in ARCA championships points in 2009.

Donahue, who cut his teeth in the NASCAR garage, is among a growing list of NASCAR veteran crew members that have moved over to ARCA as a career opportunity.

He was born and raised in South Portland, Maine, and 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."

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 steered his way into the ARCA garage where he's managed to stay quite busy over the last three seasons.

"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."

Other crew chiefs who have found new life inside the ARCA garage in recent years include Joey Coulter's crew chief Harold Holly (former Nationwide championship crew chief), Cunningham Motorsports' Paul Andrews (former Cup championship crew chief), Parker Kligerman's crew chief Chris Carrier (Penske Racing/former Cup crew chief winner) and 2009 Cometic Crew Chief of the Year Mark Rette, who directed Justin Lofton's championship effort. 

In addition to staying busy in the NASCAR garage, Donahue has been spending some down time with his family, Jordin (8 year old daughter) and Blaine (his 4 year old son.