Patrick Staropoli Bio
Patrick Charles Staropoli (born November 10, 1989) is an American retina surgeon and professional stock car racing driver. He is known for balancing a demanding medical career with part-time competition across several NASCAR-sanctioned series.
Born and raised in Plantation, Florida, Staropoli most recently competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Sam Hunt Racing, in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Cook Racing Technologies, and in the ARCA Menards Series for Venturini Motorsports. He drives Toyota vehicles across all three programs, including the Toyota GR Supra, Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, and Toyota Camry.
Early Life and Background
Staropoli was born on November 10, 1989, in Plantation, Florida, where he was raised. He is the son of Nick Staropoli Jr. and Arlene Staropoli, and he grew up with a sister named Devon. Both his father and grandfather were past racers, and Staropoli attended his first races when he was only six months old.
He was educated at Plantation High School, where he graduated in 2008 as the valedictorian of his class. While in high school, he served as 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 with hopes of becoming a team engineer in NASCAR or Formula One. During his sophomore year, he switched his major to neurobiology after attending a neurobiology panel. He graduated from Harvard in 2012 with summa cum laude honors.
Path to NASCAR
Staropoli began racing at the age of 13 in go-karts in Naples, Florida. After one year, he moved into the Pure Stocks division, an entry-level stock car racing class, and later advanced into the Super Late Models division for his family’s race team.
In 2013, Staropoli was invited to compete in the PEAK Stock Car Dream Challenge, a reality television show organized by Michael Waltrip Racing. Out of 10 finalists, he won the competition and earned a part-time ride in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series for Bill McAnally Racing. He made his series debut in the K&N Pro Series West at Spokane, finishing fifth, and in 2014 he signed a five-race deal to compete in both the East and West divisions.
Patrick Staropoli Career
Early Career (2013–2015)
Staropoli made his debut in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West in 2013 at Spokane for Bill McAnally Racing, finishing in the top five. The following season, he expanded into a five-race schedule across both the East and West divisions, capturing his first victory in March 2014 at Irwindale in the West Series.
In 2015, Staropoli faced a growing conflict between his medical studies at the University of Miami and his racing career. After a sponsorship deal failed to materialize in the winter of that year, he scaled back his NASCAR activity. He made his ARCA Racing Series debut at Daytona in February for Empire Racing and returned later that year with Bill McAnally, recording finishes of retirement at both Richmond and Dover.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Debut (2016)
Staropoli made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut in 2016 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, finishing 31st in a partnership entry between Young’s Motorsports and SS-Green Light Racing. The start marked his first national-series NASCAR appearance and his best Truck Series result to date.
Following that single start, Staropoli stepped away from NASCAR between 2017 and 2024 to focus on his medical career. He continued to race occasionally in late model and modified divisions during his free time while completing his medical training.
2025 Return to NASCAR
In 2025, Staropoli returned to NASCAR after a nine-year absence, racing part-time across multiple series and teams. He opened his season in the ARCA Menards Series at Phoenix on March 7 for Venturini Motorsports, recovering from a spin to finish eighth.
Three weeks later, he made his first Truck Series start in more than nine seasons at Martinsville for Cook Racing Technologies, finishing 20th. The very next day, Staropoli debuted in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Martinsville for Sam Hunt Racing, finishing 16th. He also made appearances in the ARCA Menards Series East and West divisions throughout the year.
Sam Hunt Racing Era (2025–Present)
Staropoli joined Sam Hunt Racing for his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in 2025, piloting the No. 24 Toyota GR Supra. His first start at Martinsville produced a 16th-place finish, marking a successful return to top-level stock car competition.
With Sam Hunt Racing, Staropoli also competed in the NASCAR Truck Series at Martinsville aboard the No. 84 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for Cook Racing Technologies, finishing 20th. His part-time schedule reflected his ongoing commitments as a retina surgeon while continuing to build his stock car resume.
Driving Style and Strengths
Staropoli has described his dual careers in medicine and racing as mutually reinforcing, noting that the focus required in surgery translates to race craft, and the split-second decision-making in racing benefits his medical work. His limited NASCAR starts to date have shown steady progression, with consistent top-20 finishes in his 2025 Xfinity and Truck Series debuts and a podium-level recovery in ARCA at Phoenix.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among Staropoli’s signature moments are his first K&N Pro Series West victory at Irwindale in 2014 and his 2015 ARCA debut at Daytona. His 2025 return, including back-to-back debuts in the Truck and Xfinity Series at Martinsville, marked his most ambitious stretch of national NASCAR racing since 2016.
Patrick Staropoli Career Wins
Staropoli has recorded one verified national-series victory in his stock car career, scored in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. He has also accumulated multiple top-ten finishes across ARCA Menards Series events, the ARCA Menards Series East, and the ARCA Menards Series West.
ARCA Menards Series West Highlights
Staropoli captured his lone K&N Pro Series West victory at Irwindale in 2014, during a five-race deal with Bill McAnally Racing that also included the East division. He has since added one pole position and five top-ten finishes in West Series competition.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of the West Series, Staropoli has yet to record a win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, or the main ARCA Menards Series. He has posted three top-ten finishes in the ARCA Menards Series and four top-ten finishes in the ARCA Menards Series East, reflecting steady development in stock car racing’s supporting ranks.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR K&N Pro Series West | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| ARCA Menards Series | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| ARCA Menards Series East | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Patrick Staropoli Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Staropoli is the son of Nick Staropoli Jr. and Arlene Staropoli, and he has a sister named Devon. Both his father and grandfather were past racers, and Staropoli has credited attending races with his family from infancy as the spark for his motorsports passion.
Personal Life
Staropoli was inspired to pursue medicine after witnessing a near-fatal racing accident involving his father at Hialeah Speedway in 2001. He currently works as a retina surgeon at the Retina Consultants of Texas, and in 2024 he launched Driving to Fight Blindness, an awareness campaign focused on retinal diseases. In 2010, he was diagnosed with coeliac disease.
2025 Season Performance
Staropoli’s 2025 campaign marked his return to NASCAR after a nine-year absence, with a part-time schedule spanning the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He opened his season with an eighth-place ARCA finish at Phoenix for Venturini Motorsports, recovering from an early spin to post a top-ten result.
He followed that with a 20th-place Truck Series effort at Martinsville for Cook Racing Technologies and a 16th-place Xfinity Series debut at the same track for Sam Hunt Racing, the day after his Truck start. These back-to-back national-series debuts represented his most significant competitive stretch since 2016.
Throughout 2025, Staropoli balanced his racing program with his work as a retina surgeon, continuing to build experience in Toyota equipment across multiple series. With his 2025 schedule complete, he announced a move up to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series full-time for 2026 with Big Machine Racing, signaling the next chapter of his stock car career.
