Ladies and Gentlemen, the doctor is in!

Dr. Patrick Staropoli, a board-certified medical and surgical retina specialist, has been tapped by NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series operation Big Machine Racing to compete full-time in the second-tier division in 2026.

Staropoli will get behind the wheel of the No. 48 SYFOVRE (pegcetacoplan injection) Chevrolet, beginning with the February 14 season-opener at Daytona International Speedway.

“From the moment I buckled into a pure stock at Hialeah Speedway in 2023, my life’s goal has been to compete at the top levels of this sport,” said Staropoli. “The path has taken many unexpected turns, but after working every day for 23 years in pursuit of this dream, I now have the opportunity of a lifetime thanks to Scott Borchetta, Patrick Donahue, and Chevrolet. I am ready to do whatever it takes to put this SYFOVRE Chevy up front and raise awareness for Geographic Atrophy secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration by combining my passion for motorsports and medicine.”

A third-generation driver from Plantation, Florida, Staropoli first gained national attention after winning the 2013 PEAK Stock Car Dream Challenge to become a Michael Waltrip Racing development driver, emerging ahead of top talents like NASCAR Cup Series race-winner Chase Briscoe. The 36-year-old earned himself a seat with Bill McAnally Racing in the ARCA Menards Series West, where he captured a victory at Irwindale in 2014.

“We’re pleased to welcome Dr. Patrick Staropoli to the No. 48 Big Machine Racing team for the 2026 season,” said Patrick Donahue, Crew Chief and Team Manager. “He brings a rare blend of professionalism, focus, and drive that will continue to strengthen our organization. This partnership reflects our commitment to surrounding the team with individuals who share our values and vision for building long-term success.”

After nearly a decade on the sidelines, Staropoli returned to the ranks of NASCAR’s National Series in 2025, competing in four NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (Xfinity Series) events for Sam Hunt Racing and four NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events for Cook Racing Technologies — earning two top-20s in both the O’Reilly Series and Truck Series.

The hiring of Dr. Patrick Staropoli comes after the surprising news earlier this month that Nick Sanchez, who earned the team’s second victory last Summer at EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta), had been released from the organization ahead of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series campaign. Sanchez said in an interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that the move was “strictly business” on the part of Big Machine Racing.

Staropoli will take on the 33-race NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series campaign in 2026 with Big Machine Racing, starting with the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway on February 14. Coverage will be at 5:30 PM ET on The CW, Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Kyle Larson is ready to go back to Daytona for the Rolex 24 Hours. 

The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion has three starts in IMSA’s season-opening crown jewel event, but none since 2016. He took overall victory with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2015, co-driving with Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, and Jamie McMurray. 

On a recently-released episode of Dinner with Racers, a podcast co-hosted by Ryan Eversley and Sean Heckman, Larson was asked about his interest in returning for the endurance classic if Chrevolet came calling. 

“I think at this stage in my career, yeah, I’d do it again,” said Larson, driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in NASCAR. “I had fun those three years I did it. I didn’t want to keep doing it every year.” 

#02 Chip Ganassi Racing Riley DP Ford: Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Jamie McMurray, Kyle Larson

Photo by: Alexander Trienitz

Few are as well-equipped as Larson to handle a busy racing schedule. Beyond his Cup commitments, he also competes in High Limit Racing, a Sprint Car Series he co-owns with five-time World of Outlaws champion Brad Sweet. There’s also the random Midget races, and offseason racing trips to the other side of the globe.

“The offseasons have only gotten busier,” Larson said. “There’s more races and stuff. I go to Australia now, Chili Bowl, and West Coast Midget races. It’s just a lot and I, kind of, want time off. But it’s been so long since I ran it that you almost get to the point where you forget a little bit about it, right? And I just remember having a blast doing that race, so I just want to go there and relive it.”

The 33-year-old California native would also relish the opportunity to share the experience with his family, noting his oldest of three children, Owen, is 11 but was a newborn when Larson won the event.

“To have my kids be a part of it would be cool,” said Larson, who also has two starts in the Indianapolis 500 each of the last two years.

It also helps bolster a family vacation when Disney World is roughly an hour away, too. 

“Yeah, that, too,” he said. “So yeah, I would probably do it again.”

However, Larson, who attempted to express not knowing anyone in IMSA to move the idea forward, does have one requirement: “I want to be in the best car.” 

As the subject started to fade off, Larson pressed his level of interest into more of a declaration. 

“I definitely want to do it again in the future.”

We want your opinion!

– The Motorsport.com Team

Racing With Heavy Hearts…..The KSR Crew Heads To Bradenton Motorsports Park’s Christmas Tree Drags 2025!

Dec 23, 2025Chad Reynolds1320 Event Coverage, 1320 Spotlight, 1320 Videos, BangShift 1320, DRAG RACES, Event Coverage, RACING & ACTION, Videos

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Kevin and the KSR Performance and Fab crew headed out to Bradenton for Cleetus McFarland’s Christmas Tree Drags, but like most folks in the motorsports world it was with a heavy heart after the unfortunate death of Greg Biffle and his family. He wasn’t alone, as he and many of the other racers at the Christmas Tree Race were friends with Biffle or raced with him in a variety of races at Bradenton and the Freedom Factory. But even though Greg’s death put a big of a dark cloud over the weekend, the race went on like he’d have wanted. Watch the racing action and see just how well KSR and Soccer Mom did with a Christmas tree strapped to it.

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These Railroad Speeders Got A Unique View Of The Oregon Coast While Spreading Christmas Cheer!

Illinois Puts Out A Video Every Year Of Some Of Their More Entertaining Rejected Personalized Plates And Here It Is!

 

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