By Chris Knight – Could one of NASCAR’s future stars really come from a dream come true?
Even though Patrick Staropoli (@97patrickstar) is starting 24th in Saturday afternoon’s PittLite 125 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, the Plantation, Florida native has attracted a lot of eyes entering his third career NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKNPSE) event driving for Bill McAnally Racing (BMR).
Staropoli was the 2013 winner of the PEAK Stock Car Dream Challenge, where he battled over 700 entries to earn an opportunity to compete in a stock car under the affiliation of Michael Waltrip Racing, while being backed by PEAK Motor Oil.
The Floridian was one of nine entries to make it to the final round and on August 11, he was officially announced as the winner. As the victor of the PEAK Stock Car Dream Challenge, Staropoli was faced with the challenge of obtaining his competition license. With Waltrip’s support, Staropoli received clearance to compete in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West with BMR, a team sponsored by NAPA, one of Waltrip’s marketing partners at his organization last season.
Competing in two races at Spokane County Raceway and All American Speedway (Roseville) respectively, Staropoli impressed. In his inaugural stock-car debut in Spokane, the 24-year old started seventh and finished fifth. Nearly two months later, his result at Spokane earned him a second opportunity in Roseville, where despite his inexperience, Staropoli shined. After qualifying 10th, he methodically worked his way through the field to finish an impressive sixth. He completed 100 percent of the laps in both races.
“I had a lot of fun competing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West,” Staropoli told CATCHFENCE.com “I think that everyone was a little surprised on how well we did together.”
PEAK, Michael Waltrip and BMR had fulfilled their agreement with Staropoli, but they knew that they had a potential serious prospect in front of them – and they weren’t bound to let him go.
In January, the parties unexpectedly announced that their contest winner would compete in a limited schedule starting at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway in Florida during Speedweeks, followed by the second-annual UNOH Battle at the Beach. In all, his maturity and finesse behind the wheel would earn him five races to what was an empty slate in 2014.
While, New Smyrna didn’t go exactly as planned, the driver of the No. 99 PEAK Toyota Camry was able to rally through his deep starting position of 24th to finish 11th. Two days later in Daytona, he roared from his 18th place starting position to race inside the top-five, before being spun out and rallying back to an eighth place effort.
Saturday’s race however will be like nothing that he’s ever experienced before and he seems more than ready for the task and challenge.
“After watching the race from last year, everyone’s race pace is so close you’re going to have to grab as many spots as you can on the restarts. That will be key. Bristol is an amazing racetrack. I’ve never seen or felt anything like it. And so it’s been a challenge to figure out what the car needs, because your sensation of loose and tight is different than at any other track. I’m still getting my head wrapped around it, but I think the adjustments we make at halfway may have the biggest impact of the whole weekend.”
So, what was Staropoli doing before the PEAK Stock Car Dream Challenge?
Nothing important.
Kidding, of course.
The Miami, Florida resident is in college at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami and had to ask permission for a long-term absence, while he satisfied his racing crave in NASCAR. His sabbatical was approved, contingent on completing an academic plan and study in his time off.
While school is a promising fallback, the former Harvard graduate hopes he’ll create a path that will keep him behind the wheel past Iowa Speedway in May and out of medical school.
“I don’t have anything set after Iowa,” Staropoli explained. “Racing is what I want to do. A year ago I was spending every waking moment outside of school rebuilding my own racecar from scratch. Now, I’m driving a hot rod for one of the most well-known and respected teams in the NASCAR K&N Series. I don’t want to let that go, so hopefully things will work out where we’re able to find some sponsorship that will keep my career going.”
As we know, Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway is the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile” and sometimes, it can come out and bite you at any time. Should Staropoli have a setback, no reason for immediate panic yet, as three races down (after Bristol) and two (Irwindale and Iowa) to go, gives this promising young-driver a couple more opportunities to show why he’s more than a star, he’s the future of NASCAR.
Editor’s Note: Staropoli climbed from his 24th place starting position, stayed out of trouble and finished sixth in the March 15th running of the Pitt Lite 125, earning his second top-10 finish of the year in three races. Next up is a return to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West division for the running of the NAPA Auto Parts 150 at Irwindale Speedway on Saturday, March 22.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
Article on: Catchfence.com