Big Machine Racing announced today that retina surgeon and stock car driver Dr. Patrick Staropoli will join the team full time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, beginning with the season opener at Daytona International Speedway this February. Staropoli will pilot the No. 48 SYFOVRE® (pegcetacoplan injection) Chevrolet, marking a unique blend of elite medical expertise and high-performance motorsports on one of racing’s biggest stages.

“From the moment I buckled into a pure stock at Hialeah Speedway in 2003, my life’s goal has been to compete at the top levels of this sport. 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 including runner-up Chase Briscoe. The Harvard University graduate went on to earn a seat with Bill McAnally Racing in the ARCA West Series for the 2014 season, where he quickly proved himself as a frontrunner.

Staropoli competed in four Xfinity Series and four Truck Series races in the 2025 season. Across his career, he has accumulated 17 starts in multiple ARCA series divisions. His breakthrough victory at Irwindale Speedway in 2014 made him the first medical doctor in NASCAR history to win a race.

Dr. Staropoli is a board-certified medical and surgical retina specialist. His research on retinal detachment repair, macular disease, and resident education has been widely published. He completed both his ophthalmology residency and vitreoretinal surgery fellowship at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, the nation’s top-ranked eye hospital.

“We’re pleased to welcome Dr. Patrick Staropoli to the #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.”

Big Machine Racing PR

GREENVILLE — A proposed revision to Greenville’s land use ordinance which involves a new definition pertaining to motorsports businesses has been moved to the 2026 annual town meeting in June.

The select board gave its approval to the addition developed by the planning board during a Dec. 17 meeting, two weeks after tabling a decision.

“We’ve had a lot of special town meetings lately and neither one of these are an emergency,” Selectperson Bonnie Dubien said, also mentioning the decommission of Crescent Street. “So I would like to move that this be put on the June town meeting.”

When asked, Planning Board Chair John Contreni said he was fine with a June vote.

Two weeks prior Contreni said the addition to the list of definitions in the land use ordinance is called motorsports sales/service/repair.

A motorsports sales, service and repair establishment is a commercial use involving the retail sale, servicing, maintenance and mechanical repair of recreational and utility vehicles powered by internal combustion or electric engines. This use includes but is not limited to boats and electrical watercraft, snowmobile, all terrain vehicles, utility vehicles, small engine recreational vehicles, for example dirt bikes, go karts, and lawn and garden equipment, for example mowers, chainsaws and trimmers.

Such a business would not be permitted in the residential, downtown district 1 and 2, rural, airport and resource protection districts. These would be available for conditional use in village, village commercial, commercial industrial, rural development 1 and 2 districts, meaning the owner needs to come before the planning board to get a permit. 

A resident has expressed interest in opening a shop to repair 4-wheelers and side by sides and small engines. Some discussions with neighbors revealed they were worried the business could evolve into an automobile garage so instead a specific motorsports definition was developed by the planning board. 

In other business, the select board approved a letter of engagement for consultant and Tax Increment Financing work with a proposal to be voted on in the future.

Greenville officials are looking at establishing TIF districts and the hope is to have a plan ready for a town meeting, Select Chair Geno Murray said.

“So I’m assuming this is our first step?,” Selectperson Richard Peat asked and was told yes.

Murray said there will be a lot of education involved in the process and residents will have the opportunity to participate.

A committee will be in place at some point, Town Manager Michael Roy said. “Part of pushing it out until 2027 is making sure everybody’s well educated on this,” he said. 

The skating rink warming hut has been delivered and is in place, Roy said in his report. Electricity has been connected and water was set to be connected in the next few days.

Recreation Director Sally Tornquist told Roy that A.E. Robinson came to install the warming hut heater and thought the appliance was too small, so the business donated a larger model. Upon asking Roy what should be done with the older heater she was told to pay it forward. The older heater has been given to A.E. Robinson so the company can donate it to someone in need.

Roy also reported on the Piscataquis County budget, which was approved by the county commissioners the morning prior. The town manager served on the 8-member budget advisory committee.

The group met during the fall and was called back on Dec. 4 as county commissioners explained why some funding was restored for a dozen non-profit organizations.

“$102,834 was put back into the county budget,” Roy said.

On Dec. 16 Commissioner Paul Davis made a motion then to fund $1,500 for the Moosehead Lake Economic Development Corporation, $1,500 for Destination Moosehead Lake, $30,000 for the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council, $500 for Penquis CAP, $500 for Eastern Area Agency on Aging, $1,800 for the Piscataquis Regional Food Center, $20,000 for the Piscataquis Area Community Center, $2,200 for hospice, $13,500 for the Piscataquis County Soil & Water Conservation District, $27,534 for University of Maine Cooperative Extension and $1,800 for the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter.

Davis’ motion also had county salaries being held to a 4.25% increase, per the recommendation of County Manager Michael Williams.

At the commissioners second meeting in November, six of the 12 program grants were restored following a public hearing the night before in which about two dozen people attended with 10 speaking against the program grant cuts. The figures for these half dozen remained the same in Davis’ proposal.

The commissioners wanted to be respectful to the spirit of what the budget advisory committee sent to them, Commissioners Chair Andrew Torbett said last month. The committee wanted to see spending reigned in where the budget has been climbing quite a bit in the last few cycles.

The current year’s county budget, which follows a calendar year timeline, includes the same figures for Cooperative Extension, the soil and water district, hospice and homeless shelter. The food center share would be down from $5,000 and the community center’s is a brand new request with the organization launching earlier this year. These were all added back into the budget two weeks prior.

The $500 for Penquis CAP is the first Piscataquis County funding for the organization in several years.

Program grants restored on Dec. 2 that are down from 2025 are Piscataquis County Economic Development Council, $30,000 from $60,000; Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce, $1,500 from $4,500; Destination Moosehead Lake and Moosehead Lake Economic Development Council, $1,500 from $3,500 for each; and Eastern Area Agency on Aging, $500 from $5,000.

Roy said Greenville is currently paying $977,684 for a county tax allocation, 13.43% of the total and the highest rate among Piscataquis County communities.

The town would still have the highest total (13.26%) in 2026 at $833,879.

“A lot of these towns have been able to shelter their assessed values for new construction with TIF districts,” he said, which is why Greenville is looking to do this.

TIF districts will shelter new construction and development from the state assessed value which trickles down to the county tax and keeps the bill down for Greenville residents.

“Kudos to the fire department, all the fire departments all over the place for the job well done,” Selectperson Burt Whitman said. “This is ugly this time of the year.”

“They did a good job on the Masonic building and everything else,” he said. “Unfortunately we lost it but no one was hurt so that’s the best thing.”

Fire broke out at the Masonic Hall on Pritham Avenue shortly after 1 a.m. on Dec. 15.

When firefighters arrived, they discovered heavy flames, and video and photos from the scene showed flames roaring up from the lodge’s roof.

Investigators have concluded that the fire began in the basement kitchen. The extent of the damage has prevented the fire marshal’s office from determining the blaze’s cause.

Investigators have found no evidence to suggest the fire was intentionally set.

The lodge has loomed over Pritham Avenue since its construction in 1929, paid for by merchant Arthur Crafts.

The Bangor Daily News’ Christopher Burns contributed to this story.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series all-time win list is hallowed ground.

Since The Greatest Show on Dirt was born in 1978, thousands and thousands of drivers have attempted to add their name, and only a small percentage have succeeded. To earn a spot means beating the best Sprint Car drivers in the world.

The 2025 campaign delivered 16 different winners over 68 Features. Some made major strides. Some hit milestones. Some kept streaks alive. What they all have in common is every single victory is a cherished piece of history.

Let’s look at how the all-time win list shakes out after the 2025 season: 

David Gravel – 120 Wins (seventh all-time): David Gravel led the Series in victories for the third year in a row, topping 17 races aboard the Big Game Motorsports No. 2. The closer toward the top of the all-time win list you get, the harder it becomes to advance spots. That’s the area where Gravel now resides, but he was able to leap Joey Saldana for seventh. The two-time champion is only two triumphs away from equaling Danny Lasoski for sixth. The top five is also within reach next year as Doug Wolfgang sits at 140 – 20 wins ahead.

Carson Macedo – 58 Wins (tied-16th all-time): Carson Macedo continues to climb the historical ladder with Jason Johnson Racing. Eleven victories this year made it four double-digit win seasons in five tries since jumping in the JJR No. 41. That elevated his career total to 58, equaling the Lemoore, CA native with one of his heroes, Jason Meyers. A similar output in 2026 would move Macedo ahead of Meyers, Craig Dollansky, and Bobby Davis Jr. A career-best season could also push him beyond Jac Haudenschild’s total of 72.

Sheldon Haudenschild – 46 Wins (19th all-time): The all-time win list remains one of Sheldon Haudenschild’s biggest motivations, and he added another four checkered flags to his total in 2025. The Wooster, OH driver entered the year tied with Andy Hillenburg and Logan Schuchart, and he cleared both. Jeff Swindell (51 wins) is Haudenschild’s next target.

Logan Schuchart – 44 Wins (20th all-time): The 2025 season made it 10 straight years of at least one triumph for Logan Schuchart in the Shark Racing No. 1S. The Pennsylvanian tallied two this year, enough to break a tie with Andy Hillenburg.

Kyle Larson – 39 Wins (22nd all-time): Kyle Larson continues to make the most of every opportunity to get in a Sprint Car. The now two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion won four of his 13 starts aboard the Silva Motorsports No. 57 with the World of Outlaws in 2025. That gives him 39 victories in 157 races, a nearly 25-percent clip. He passed his former driver, Shane Stewart (36 wins), in the history books this year.

Michael Kofoid – 22 Wins (29th all-time): Nobody was on the move up the list more in 2025 than Michael “Buddy” Kofoid. A dozen scores with the Roth Motorsports crew upped his total to 22 and elevated him all the way into the top 30 all-time. The spots become more spaced out from here, but the five ahead of him are well within striking distance next season. A superb 2026 could even allow him to catch Shane Stewart for 23rd all-time.

Rico Abreu – 21 Wins (tied-30th all-time): In 13 World of Outlaws races, Rico Abreu managed to bag an impressive four victories in 2025. That pushed the St. Helena, CA driver into a tie with fellow Californian Tim Kaeding and the “Ohio Traveler,” Rick Ferkel.

Anthony Macri – 7 Wins (tied-57th all-time): Dillsburg, PA’s Anthony Macri entered 2025 with a trio of World of Outlaws victories on his résumé, and he more than doubled that number. Macri defended the porch three times in Pennsylvania. He also changed his nickname from the “Concrete Kid” to the “Concrete King” in one night by claiming the Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway, banking $200,000 in riches. He’s now alongside Jeff Shepard, Chad Kemenah, Brian Brown, and Aaron Reutzel.

Bill Balog – 4 Wins (tied-75th all-time): One of Bill Balog’s main goals in his sophomore season was to snag at least one win, and he did so and then some. The “North Pole Nightmare” visited Victory Lane on a trio of occasions, putting his name in the company of Dub May, Jack Hewitt, and Ian Madsen on the all-time list.

More Movement: A handful of more competitors already established on the list added a single tally to their total. Christopher Bell, Giovanni Scelzi, Brad Sweet, Corey Day, and Dale Blaney all won once in 2025.

New Names: Two drivers added their presence on the all-time win list. First, Ryan Timms did so in spectacular fashion by leading all 50 laps of the Knoxville Nationals, becoming the first to ever have “The Granddaddy of Them All” be their first Series score. The other was Chase Dietz, who helped deliver bragging rights for the Pennsylvania Posse by winning night one of the National Open at Williams Grove Speedway.

For the complete all-time World of Outlaws win list, CLICK HERE.

The 2026 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car season will begin at Volusia Speedway Park’s Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, Feb. 4-7. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

For the complete 2026 schedule, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

DIRTcar Series PR

The video’s description reads, “Racing isn’t acting — it’s real courage, discipline, and passion. Ajith Kumar proves once again that his love for motor sports is not just on screen, but on the track. From intense training to fearless racing, this video showcases Ajith Kumar’s real-life journey in motor sports, where every second counts and every turn demands skill. No camera tricks. No acting. Just pure racing spirit.”

A few days ago, director Vijay had shared that he was fortunate to document his life on the racing track. “Ajith and Suresh Chandra sir wanted me to do this. When the actor came on the first day, he said, ‘Welcome to my world’. This is not what we think, it’s a completely different world altogether. When you look at it from outside, it might feel like it is simple. It is not like that at all. Everything is a do or die scenario,” he said, recalling a few moments and words from the Good Bad Ugly actor.

Heaping praise on Ajith Kumar, he said, “All of us know Ajith as a superstar, but seeing him work hard for his passion is very surprising. After coming here, my respect for him as well as for the sports has increased tremendously. He would surely be looked at as a motorsports icon in India.”

On the work front, Ajith Kumar, who had two releases this year – Vidaamuyarchi and Good Bad Ugly, will start shooting for AK64 in February next year where he reunites with Adhik Ravichandran.

We’ve already looked back at the 2025 Wisconsin auto racing season and the questions raised a year ago as potential hot topics.

IndyCar and the Milwaukee Mile, a sprint car smorgasbord, various topics related to short-track racing and the persistent, agonizing question of NASCAR’s future in the state all were considered.

Not surprisingly, some of those return to the look-ahead list for 2026.

A full-time season for Thomas Annunziata in the ARCA Menards Series. Nitro Motorsports signs another young star. Annunziata has a few starts in the NASCAR ranks at this point. The 20-year-old is embarking on his first full-time season in a stock car.

From New Jersey, Thomas Annunziata has been slowly getting his footing in the NASCAR ranks. He ran part-time for Cope Family Racing this season in the Xfinity Series. He had his best finish of P17 at the Chicago Street Course.

Annunziata has experience in Trans AM, ARCA, and NASCAR. Is he a championship contender in the ARCA Menards Series this season?