Patrick Staropoli, a retina surgeon by commerce, is accustomed to high-pressure moments.
As full-time driver of the No. 48 Huge Machine Racing Chevrolet in 2026, he’s laser-focused on making it within the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Elements Sequence.
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After profitable the PEAK Inventory Automobile Dream Problem with Michael Waltrip Racing greater than a decade in the past and profitable an ARCA Menards Sequence West race at Irwindale Speedway, alternatives dried up for Staropoli on the nationwide degree. His time as a developmental driver for MWR got here and went, leaving him targeted on medical college.
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“Thankfully, I used to be nonetheless in a position to return and end medical college, and that was the first focus,” Staropoli informed NASCAR.com. “I needed to get that completed it doesn’t matter what, after which I raced on the facet as a lot as I might: late fashions, modifieds for the final 10 years.”
Staropoli raced round Florida whereas attending Bascom Palmer Eye Institute on the College of Miami, among the many finest establishments for ophthalmology apply. Earlier than that, he graduated from Harvard College, initially believing he was taking place the engineering path.
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However regardless of how a lot he excelled within the classroom, racing was all the time on the forefront.
“The deal that I had with my dad and mom and automobile house owners and everyone rising up was that I needed to take college critically if I needed to race,” Staropoli mentioned. “I liked racing, in order that was my motivating issue to do properly in class.”
After graduating from “The U,” Staropoli moved to Houston inside the final three years to work for Retina Consultants of Texas. He might do upwards of six or seven surgical procedures per day whereas seeing anyplace from 60 to 90 sufferers.
“The pitch once I got here on the market was that we might use the racing platform to lift consciousness for what we have been doing in retina and caring for individuals and their sight,” Staropoli mentioned. “They stayed true to their phrase. I obtained on the market and obtained to proceed racing, they usually’ve been large supporters of mine with this chance this 12 months.”
Patrick Staropoli poses for a photograph along with his pit crew earlier than a NASCAR O
Enter Huge Machine Racing.
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Staropoli transitioned to NASCAR in 2025, first in ARCA. He sped by way of the method of operating a quartet of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Sequence races, whereas additionally making 4 O’Reilly Auto Elements Sequence begins for Sam Hunt Racing. He scored a pair of top-20 finishes at Martinsville Speedway and began to get the bug of desirous to make a full-time stab at racing.
Staropoli inked a full-season journey with Huge Machine in late December to pilot the workforce’s flagship No. 48 Chevrolet, taking up the journey instead of Nick Sanchez, who gained at EchoPark Speedway for the workforce in 2025.
“You work that you just get a once-in-a-lifetime alternative and also you don’t need to depart that on the desk,” Staropoli mentioned of dashing to the Huge Machine journey. “I’ve seen earlier than the place I believed I had a path to get someplace [and it] goes away. Whenever you get an opportunity like this, you must bounce on it.”
In late January, Staropoli uprooted his life and moved to the Charlotte hub. He’s virtually on the race store day-after-day, desirous to study and enhance his craft.
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“We felt like learning and making ready was not going to be an issue primarily based on his profession,” Patrick Donahue, crew chief of the No. 48, mentioned. “We knew that if we gave him the knowledge, he would put the work in, and he does that each week, similar to everybody else. He watches movie, research the races, seems at SMT and goes to the sim. We do every part that we’re alleged to do.
“However he knew there was going to be a whole lot of strain on him to fill large sneakers.”
Virtually each week, Staropoli visits a race observe for the primary time. Coming into Saturday’s O’Reilly race at Rockingham Speedway (2:30 p.m. ET, The CW, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), he ranks 18th within the driver standings with 4 top-20 finishes.
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“Each observe that I am going to this 12 months — nearly all of them — are new,” Staropoli mentioned. “Although I’ve been taking part in a whole lot of video video games since I used to be a child, it’s completely different going on the market and doing it in the actual factor. Class is in session each week.”
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On Mondays, the Huge Machine squad regroups and adjusts for upcoming races. The aim for everybody on the workforce is to proceed bettering and make minimal errors, believing the No. 48 workforce could make a playoff push by way of its technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing.
“We all know our race vehicles can go quick, we all know we now have all of the tools to supply,” Donahue mentioned. “It’s placing the puzzle collectively that works finest for Patrick. We’re working extraordinarily laborious to assist him on that.”
After the 2026 season concludes at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November, Staropoli intends to return to Houston to apply within the medical area. Come February 2027, he hopes to nonetheless have a seat in NASCAR.
“The aim goes to be for a few months [in Houston] after which be again at Daytona subsequent 12 months,” Staropoli mentioned. “The final word aim for any race automobile driver is to race on Sunday. That’s been the dream since I used to be a child. I’m thankfully nearer now than I’ve ever been earlier than, and I simply hope I can execute this 12 months and audition to maintain myself round.”
