(Concord, North Carolina) – Venturini Motorsports announced today the signing of driver and Retina Surgeon, (Dr.) Patrick Staropoli to five races beginning with the ARCA Menards Series event at Phoenix Raceway on Friday, March 7.
Staropoli, driving the No.25 SYFOVRE® (pegcetacoplan injection) Toyota at Phoenix, will also make appearances at Talladega Superspeedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway and the ARCA East event at Rockingham Speedway.
A second-generation driver from Plantation, Florida, Staropoli gained national recognition and found his pathway to NASCAR wining the 2013 PEAK Stock Car Dream Challenge (drive search). Claiming top honors, the Harvard graduate, beat out some of the country’s top amateur drivers, including runner-up, and current NASCAR star, Chase Briscoe, to earn a spot in the ARCA West Series during the 2014 season.
“This is an incredible moment. It’s been a lifetime of sacrifices and hard work to get back to this point and continue racing,” said Staropoli. “I’ve dedicated my life to medicine and racing and now being able to combine the two is truly a dream come true.
“I’ve spent years eating, sleeping and dreaming of this moment and now it’s all coming together at the perfect time in my life.”
Rising through the ranks of karts and late model racing at a young age, Staropoli has made ten starts across ARCA’s platforms. With a 2014 ARCA West victory at Irwindale Speedway, Staropoli became the first Doctor in NASCAR history to win a race. He also has a single start in the NASCAR Camping World Series on his resume.
Asked about joining Venturini Motorsports, Staropoli had this to say. “I’m pumped. I started racing at 13-years old and grew up watching ARCA on television and seeing Venturini win a lot of races. I always dreamed of racing with this group. I’m excited to have this opportunity with Billy and the team.”
Competing in the ARCA Menards Series since 1982, Venturini Motorsports, paired with Toyota, is the premier driver development team with 107 all-time victories across all of ARCA’s race platforms.
In his medical life, Dr. Patrick Staropoli is a board-certified medical and surgical retina specialist with the Retina Consultants of Texas based in Houston. He is a published researcher in various areas of clinical practice.
The full time doctor, part time racecar driver, completed ophthalmology residency and vitreoretinal surgery fellowship at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, the top ranked eye hospital in the United States.
Race fans and patients of Dr. Patrick Staropoli can watch him compete LIVE at Phoenix Raceway in the General Tire 150 on Friday, March 7 at 8p.m. on FS1 or the FOX SPORTS App. For further information and race updates follow Staropoli’s social channels @97patrickstar on Instagram and @97patrickstar on X.