Ophthalmologist takes checkered flag in Sunoco Challenge Series race at Florida racetrack

Patrick Staropoli, a retina specialist with Retina Consultants of Texas, took the checkered flag May 18 in the Sunoco Challenge Series race at Citrus County Speedway at Citrus County, Florida. (Image credit: Patrick Staropoli)

A Houston ophthalmologist with a passion for racing took the checkered flag May 18 in the Sunoco Challenge Series race at Citrus County Speedway in Citrus County, Florida.

Patrick Staropoli, who is a retina specialist with Retina Consultants of Texas, qualified 4th for the event, just 0.02 seconds off the pole position.

The race wasn't without its close calls.

“I narrowly avoided a big crash in front of me,” Staropoli said. “I took the lead with about 15 laps to go and took the win.”

In the first 50 lap dash, Staropoli finished third after battling a loose racecar.

“When we showed up to practice on Friday, the track had a lot less grip compared to the last time we raced there a few years ago,” he said. “So, Saturday morning we had to re-engineer half the car with a different setup and it worked out well.”

Changes between the races also worked out well for the JMR team as it improved the handling of the No. 64 Umatilla Veterans Village Chevrolet.

After starting second and battling in the top 3 for a majority of the race, Staropoli passed Jared Irvan for the lead with 15 laps to go and took the checkered flag ahead of Jesse Dutilly and George Gorham.

The win was the 41st for Staropoli, who has been racing for 21 years, starting in gokarts at the age of 13.

Staropoli’s JMR Chevrolet is supported by Umatilla Veterans Village, Driving to Fight Blindness, Sunoco, Southern Race Fuels, Gator Plumbing, Shadow Graphics, WAR Shocks, AR Bodies, Walero, HMS, and Clattenburg Racing Fabrication.

Staropoli will be back on the track Friday at Franklin County Speedway in Callaway, Virginia.

“I'll be making my debut in the SMART Modified Tour with Coulter Motorsports,” he said.

In that race, Staropoli could end up competing against former NASCAR Cup series legends Bobby Labonte and Ryan Newman, both currently racing in the SMART Modified series.

As an ophthalmologist, Staropoli is a published researcher in the areas of retinal detachment, macular disease and resident education. The only doctor in history to win a NASCAR race, he has used the motorsports platform to advocate and fundraise for community and healthcare issues including breast cancer and celiac disease.