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"         The Rolex 24 at Daytona is a different race every year. Each one has its own set of memories, and each one has been bittersweet for me. Although this race can be cruel, I like it.   Consider this: In the previous two years of the Rolex 24 we were running comfortably among the leaders from the drop of the green flag, only to be plagued by an accident with a lapped car in &amp;#039;07 and a mechanical gremlin in &amp;#039;08. In each case, the Daytona results translated into a points deficit that was impossible to overcome given the level of competition in the Grand-Am Series. The preceding years had proven even more difficult, as poor results left Brumos struggling to even be noticed.   In retrospect, I think those challenges served to make us stronger, and we quietly became even more motivated than many realized. Darren Law, Joao Barbosa, J.C. France and Hurley Haywood combined for more than 3800 miles of testing in this off-season, during which they were consistently at the top of the charts.   It was a revitalized Brumos Racing arriving at Daytona this year, with confidence and determination that was evidenced by all eight of our drivers leading this race at some point. But at no point was this Rolex 24 more dramatic than in that last hour as we raced Juan Pablo Montoya to the checkered flag. Both Brumos cars ran strong throughout the race and both were there at the end, flanking the 01 car. Montoya was strong, too, and could close up to me mid-corner by burying it in early. My defense was to make sure I drove off the corners cleanly, giving me good speed and enough gap over him so he couldn&amp;#039;t get under me in braking.   What many don&amp;#039;t know is that as this was happening, my car was like a grenade with the pin pulled. Because we had lost pressure in the coolant system and lots of oil, I was resetting alarms about eight times per lap for oil pressure, oil temperature, water pressure and temperature. On the radio, Michael Colucci seemed calm and collected as he told me not to worry...so I didn&amp;#039;t. Fortunately, our Porsche engine held up to the challenge despite my continued abuse.   Toward the end I started to worry something would come out of the blue and end it for us just before the checker, as it did in Montreal last year. The last time into the chicane I narrowly passed a GT car that saw me coming and let me through, but the 01 car was not as fortunate, which allowed me the most room I&amp;#039;d had in the last hour. Finally crossing the line, I was overwhelmed \u2014 first in disbelief, then with excitement. More than anything, I was relieved and thrilled for my team. I consider them to be the definition of tenacity \u2014 for years they&amp;#039;ve been working harder than words could describe to get to this point.   Then the emotions really kicked in. Almost two years ago we lost our team leader Bob Snodgrass, the undeniable spirit of Brumos since the Peter Gregg days. The entire Porsche family lost a dear friend and colleague in [Porsche PR manager] Bob Carlson this December. These are two faces we dearly wished to see in Victory Lane, and two inspirational men I will never forget. They were so much on my mind that I just didn&amp;#039;t know what to say when it was all over. I couldn&amp;#039;t say too much about just them, for fear of belittling the effort of so many others who had been crucial to our success, too \u2014 so I really was at a loss for words.   Forty years ago my father won this race, too. For him it was one of many significant accomplishments, something that has always made me proud. I have obviously long admired my father and his achievements. Joining Brumos and becoming friends with my father&amp;#039;s good friend, Hurley Haywood, also has been an honor and privilege. These are two men whose reputations and contributions to motorsports are legendary, well earned, and rightfully, will never fade. But with a bit of luck, this race will allow us &amp;quot;new guys&amp;quot; to become a part of a historic Brumos legacy and extend it into years to come. It hasn&amp;#039;t been easy to this point, but then, nothing worthwhile ever is. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/motorsports/news/a14779/david-donohue/>