Staropoli Inks Part-Time Truck & ARCA Deal With Cook

Patrick Staropoli's No. 84 Syfovre Toyota for Martinsville Speedway. (Cook Racing Technologies photo)

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – The racing schedule for Patrick Staropoli got busier Monday, as the Texas-based ophthalmologist and retina surgeon announced he’ll compete part time for Cook Racing Technologies in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series.

Staropoli’s new deal kicks off with Friday night’s Truck Series Boys & Girls Club of the Blue Ridge 200 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

Staropoli returned to racing on the national stage with Venturini Motorsports in the ARCA race at Arizona’s Phoenix Raceway earlier this month. Despite a mid-race spin, he scored a top-10 finish in his first national touring series race in a decade.

The 35-year-old will drive the No. 84 Syfovre Toyota Tundra TRD Pro at the historic short track nicknamed ‘The Paper Clip’. The Truck Series appearance comes in addition to his planned NASCAR Xfinity Series debut with Sam Hunt Racing in Saturday’s Marine Corps 250.

“Competing at the upper levels of stock car racing has always been a dream of mine, and I’m honored to be able to combine my passion for medicine and motorsports,” said Staropoli. “I’m looking forward to working with Bruce’s team throughout the season, and I can’t wait to kick it off at one of NASCAR’s most popular short tracks.”

Staropoli will also drive CRT’s No. 17 Toyota Camry in the Tide 150 ARCA race at Kansas Speedway on Friday, May 9. The multi-race schedules with CRT and with SHR add to the four remaining ARCA races on the Plantation, Fla., native’s slate with the Venturini team.

Off the racetrack, Staropoli works as a retina specialist for Retina Consultants of Texas in Houston, where he promotes the Driving to Fight Blindness campaign.

Team owner and crew chief for CRT, Bruce Cook, is confident that his newest driver’s determination will mesh well with the team’s culture.

“I look forward to working with Patrick on and off the track,” said Cook. “He’s a great guy with a natural ability to race, and his determination fits right in with our program. We’re thankful for the opportunity to work with him and the Syfovre team this season.”

Staropoli’s full schedule with CRT will be announced at a later date. His starts with both CRT and SHR at Martinsville mark his debut at the oldest continuously operating NASCAR track.

Broadcast coverage of the Boys & Girls Club of the Blue Ridge 200 at Martinsville is scheduled for Friday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m. on FS1, the NASCAR Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.