Patrick Staropoli

Patrick Charles Staropoli (born November 10, 1989) is an American retina surgeon and professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Big Machine Racing, part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 51 Chevrolet SS for Rick Ware Racing, and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series West, driving the No. 20 Chevrolet SS for Bill McAnally Racing. He also previously competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Born and raised in Plantation, Florida, Staropoli started competing in go-karts at the age of 13. Initially wanting to be a motorsports engineer, he switched interests to the medical field while studying at Harvard University. He continued to pursue both fields in auto racing and medicine after graduation, specializing in ophthalmology at the University of Miami. While at Miami, he continued to make periodical starts in NASCAR, including starts in the NASCAR Truck Series. After obtaining his master's degree, Staropoli continued to race periodically in late models in various series for eight years. In 2025, Staropoli returned to NASCAR after a nine-year absence.

Early life and family background Staropoli was born on November 10, 1989, in the town of Plantation, Florida, where he was raised. He is the son of Nick Staropoli Jr. and Arlene Staropoli. Staropoli was born alongside a sister named Devon. He was educated at Plantation High School where he graduated in 2008 as the valedictorian of his class. While attending Plantation High School, he was involved in numerous extracurriculars and activities. He was the vice president of the school's National Honor Society branch, competed in rocket competitions, and volunteered as a spokesman for an anti-drugs organization.

After high school, Staropoli attended Harvard University, initially majoring in engineering in hopes of becoming a team engineer in NASCAR or Formula One. However, he switched majors during his sophomore year, switching to neurobiology after attending a neurobiology panel. Staropoli graduated from Harvard in 2012 with suma cum laude honors.

Racing career

Early racing career According to Staropoli, he was inspired since his childhood to go into racing, having attended races since he was six months old, with both his father and grandfather being past racers. After a year, he moved into the Pure Stocks division, an entry stock car racing division. Out of ten finalists, Staropoli won the competition, earning a part-time ride in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series for Bill McAnally Racing. In March of that year, he earned his first victory in the West Series, winning at Irwindale. Staropoli earned one more top five in the 2014 West Series season, after making his debut in the ARCA Racing Series at Daytona in February for Empire Racing. retiring in both of his races at Richmond and Dover.

From 2017 to 2024, Staropoli stepped out of NASCAR to focus on his medical career, occasionally racing in late model and modified divisions in his free time.

2025–2026: Return to NASCAR Staropoli raced part-time in multiple series in 2025 and made several debuts in NASCAR-sanctioned series, including the ARCA Racing Series, the NASCAR Truck Series, and the NASCAR Xfinity Series for various racing teams. He made his season debut in the ARCA Racing Series at Phoenix on March 7 for Venturini Motorsports, where he finished in eighth after recovering from a spin. Three weeks later, Staropoli made his first start in the Truck Series in over nine seasons at Martinsville, finishing in 20th in a Cook Racing Technologies entry. He started the 2026 season with a 18th-place finish at Daytona.

Non-racing ventures and personal life Outside of racing, Staropoli pursues a career in ophthalmology, currently working as a retina surgeon at the Retina Consultants of Texas. After graduating from Harvard in 2012, he attended the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami, graduating in 2017 with a MD. According to Staropoli, he was inspired to enter the medicine field after witnessing a near-fatal racing accident that his father was involved in 2001 at Hialeah Speedway. Speaking about his careers, he stated in an interview with WSVN, "I find that I think I’m a better race car driver because I’m a doctor. And the other way around: being a racecar driver makes me a better physician. I think the skills definitely translate."

In 2010, Staropoli was diagnosed with coeliac disease.

In 2026, Staropoli joined his Big Machine Racing team in working as a tire changer at the ARCA race at Iowa, pitting the Clubb Racing Inc. No. 03, driven by Alex Clubb.

Motorsports career results

Racing career summary

NASCAR (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

O'Reilly Auto Parts Series NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 Pts Ref 2025 Sam Hunt Racing 24 Toyota DAY ATL COA PHO LVS HOM MAR DAR BRI CAR TAL TEX CLT NSH MXC POC ATL CSC SON DOV IND IOW GLN DAY PIR GTW BRI KAN ROV LVS TAL MAR PHO 43rd 58 2026 Big Machine Racing 48 Chevy DAY ATL COA PHO LVS DAR MAR CAR BRI KAN TAL TEX GLN DOV CLT NSH POC COR SON CHI ATL IND IOW DAY DAR GTW BRI LVS CLT PHO TAL MAR HOM -* -*

Craftsman Truck Series NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Pts Ref 2016 Young's Motorsports 07 Chevy DAY ATL MAR KAN DOV CLT TEX IOW GTW KEN ELD POC BRI MCH MSP CHI NHA LVS TAL MAR TEX PHO HOM31 77th 2 2025 Cook Racing Technologies 84 Toyota DAY ATL LVS HOM MAR20 BRI29 CAR TEX KAN NWS CLT NSH MCH POC LRP IRP GLN RCH23 DAR BRI NHA ROV TAL MAR15 PHO 98th 01

Season still in progress Ineligible for series points

ARCA Menards Series (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.) ARCA Menards Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Pts Ref 2015 Empire Racing 82 Ford DAY21 MOB NSH SLM TAL TOL NJE POC MCH CHI WIN IOW IRP POC BLN ISF DSF SLM KEN KAN 114th 125 2025 Venturini Motorsports 25 Toyota DAY PHO8 CLT8 MCH BLN ELK LRP DOV IRP IOW GLN ISF MAD DSF BRI10 SLM 20th 194 15 TAL11 Cook Racing Technologies 17 Toyota KAN22 KAN11 TOL 2026 Rick Ware Racing 51 Chevy DAY PHO KAN TAL GLN22 TOL MCH POC BER ELK CHI LRP IRP IOW ISF MAD DSF SLM BRI KAN -* -*

ARCA Menards Series East ARCA Menards Series East results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pts Ref 2014 Bill McAnally Racing 99 Toyota NSM11 DAY8 BRI6 GRE RCH IOW BGS FIF LGY NHA COL IOW GLN VIR GRE DOV 28th 107 2015 NSM GRE BRI IOW BGS LGY COL NHA IOW GLN MOT VIR RCH35 DOV24 52nd 29 2025 Venturini Motorsports 25 Toyota FIF CAR4 NSV FRS DOV IRP IOW BRI10 33rd 74

ARCA Menards Series West ARCA Menards Series West results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Pts Ref 2013 Bill McAnally Racing 99 Toyota PHO S99 BIR IOW L44 SON CNS IOW EVG SPO5 MMP SMP AAS6 KCR PHO 35th 77 2014 PHO IRW1 S99 IOW3 KCR SON SLS CNS IOW EVG KCR MMP AAS PHO 29th 88 2025 Venturini Motorsports 25 Toyota KER PHO8 TUC CNS KER SON TRI PIR AAS MAD LVS PHO 48th 36 2026 Bill McAnally Racing 20 Chevy KER PHO TUC SHA CNS TRI SON5 PIR AAS MAD LVS PHO KER -* -*

SMART Modified Tour SMART Modified Tour results Year Car owner No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pts Ref 2024 Coulter Motorsports 97 N/A FLO CRW SBO TRI ROU HCY FCS9 CRW JAC CAR CRW DOM SBO7 NWS 33rd 66