Donahue claims Memorial Day Classic at Thunder Road

By Phil Whipple

BARRE, Vermont — Veteran short track driver John Donahue made an impressive outside pass on early leader and defending race winner David Pembroke on lap 33, then successfully worked his way through traffic to claim the 49th annual Mekkelsen's RV Memorial Day Classic Sunday afternoon at the famed Thunder Road International Speedbowl.

Donahue, of Graniteville, started fourth on the 27-car grid and was all over Pembroke's back bumper from the moment the green flag waved. Pembroke faded slightly in the closing laps and settled for second, while Vermont Lt. Governor Phil Scott finished third. Nick Sweet and Brent Dragon rounded out the top five.

"I didn't expect to get by David that easily and be able to hold him off quite so well," Donahue said after the victory. "The car was really fast the whole race, it stayed under me when I needed it today. Getting through lapped traffic was a challenge, but it always is at Thunder Road. It just feels awesome to get our first win of 2011 at this place."

Pembroke is always super-fast at Thunder Road, and looked to be headed for yet another dominant run the first 30 circuits.

"The car was really strong in practice, and we knew it would be good for the race," Pembroke said. "We really would have loved to win it a third straight year, but John was just too fast today. We'll take the runner-up finish and get ready for the next one."

Scott made a big late-race charge up the outside lane in an attempt to get by Pembroke, but lost ground and took what he could get.

"My car was a little bit loose as the race wore on, just like everybody else," Scott explained. "The competition is always tough here, and to run third today was good for us. I just have to take a minute and thank the people of Barre for rallying the way they have after last week's storms, times are tough right now for a lot of folks but we're all here today doing the best we can. I'm thrilled to see so many out today and hope they sure enjoyed the show."

Finishing sixth through 10th in the Memorial Day Classic was Joey Polewarczyk Jr.(who drove all the way up from 19th on the grid), Jimmy Hebert, Matt White, polesitter Reno Gervais (aka the King of the Kingdom) and Cris Michaud. Eleven of the 27 starters finished on the lead lap. The race was compoleted in just 29 minutes, 32 seconds, as only two cautions slowed the pace. Heat winners were Mike Bruno, Chip Grenier and Grant Folsom.

Other notable finishers in the Memorial Day Classic include former NASCAR star Jaime Aube (13th); Bruno, who, like Aube, is running fcull-time at T-Road in 2011 (15th); Thunder Road veteran Dave Whitcomb (20th); and former King of the Road Scott Payea (21st).