Staropoli – Raising Awareness For the Cure Bowl #DrivePink

AutoNation to Sponsor #07 #NCWTS Truck

"Last year I showed up in scrubs and this year I'll be there in a firesuit. That's pretty cool the difference a year can make," said Staropoli, 27, who will be behind the wheel of the pink No. 7 AutoNation Cure Bowl Chevrolet Silverado in the Ford EcoBoost 200 championship race.

NASCAR Race Mom is accustomed to seeing Danika Patrick in a 'pinked' out race vehicle. However, tomorrow, another Patrick will be competing in a pink machine.

Patrick Staropoli is set to make his #NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Homestead-Miami Speedway’s season finale.

Staropoli is twenty-five-years-old, a South Florida native, and a summa cum laude graduate of Harvard University. He has excelled in school earning a 3.94 GPA, being inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, and ranked in the Top 10% of his class. He currently attends medical school at the University of Miami.

However, since 2003, Patrick has taken the same skill and determination he uses in the classroom and applied it to his passion for racing. He progressed from gokarts up to Super Late Models until the opportunity of a lifetime presented itself in 2013.

Patrick was selected out of over 700 entries, made it to the finals, and won the inaugural PEAK Stock Car Dream Challenge.  He is now a development driver for Michael Waltrip Racing.

BIG NEWS!!! Making my @NASCAR_Trucks debut in the No. 07 @AutoNation @CureBowl Chevy at @HomesteadMiami!

Dream come true. #DrivePink pic.twitter.com/g9BsE0yvmV

— Patrick Staropoli (@97patrickstar) November 10, 2016

AutoNation teamed up with Patrick to raise awareness for the AutoNation Cure Bowl. The AutoNation Cure Bowl is more than a game. It’s a celebration of the women who are living with breast cancer today and those who may face it tomorrow. It’s a memoriam of those who have lost their battle. And it’s hope for those who fight to survive. More than that, it’s a rally cry to the world to raise awareness and help bring an end to this deadly disease once and for all.

Mike Jackson, Chairman, CEO and president of AutoNation offered, “Patrick is an extraordinary young man and the perfect ambassador for AutoNation’s Drive Pink Initiative. With his medical training, he knows firsthand that the key to driving out cancer is in funding research. It will be hard to miss Patrick’s pink No. 07 Chevrolet Silverado on the track at Homestead and also on display at the AutoNation Cure Bowl on December 17 in Orlando where we’ll be committing $1 million to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.”

"It's been a crazy couple of weeks, but it's a lot of fun," Staropoli reported. "At this point it's pure adrenaline and excitement that keeps you going. I’m so grateful for this opportunity to represent AutoNation and make my Camping World Truck Series debut this weekend at Homestead. The AutoNation Cure Bowl is such an amazing sporting event that not only provides a great platform for great football, but also make a difference in the everyday fight for finding a cure for Breast Cancer.”

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The NASCAR Hall of Fame Celebrates Motorsports Month

Surrounding the tire-shredding action at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the NASCAR Hall of Fame is offering many ways for fans and visitors to fuel up on fun during May, which has been officially declared Motorsports Month in North Carolina by Governor Pat McCrory. 

Surrounding the 10 days of NASCAR Thunder at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the NASCAR Hall of Fame is offering many ways for fans and visitors to fuel up on fun during May, which has been officially declared Motorsports Month in North Carolina by Governor Pat McCrory. From Racing Insiders Tours to the historic announcement of the Class of 2016 to the inaugural PNC Speed Street 5K and Kids 600 Yard Fun Run, guests will find high-octane happenings at the NASCAR Hall of Fame all month long.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame is also celebrating Membership Appreciation Month throughout May with daily giveaways, a chance to win a VIP experience at the Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, special members-only activities like a historian-led tour through the Hall, an exclusive sneak peek of the newest special exhibit set to open this summer, a private autograph session with the Class of 2016, a simulator racing challenge and more. Additional member benefits include annual admission and unlimited simulator rides, member gifts, access to exclusive content, discounts and more. Fans can learn more about becoming a NASCAR Hall of Fame member at nascarhall.com/membership.

And just off the heels of celebrating the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s fifth anniversary, the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2016 and the recipient of the 2016 Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR will be announced live in the Great Hall on Wednesday, May 20 at 6 p.m. ET. The announcement is open to the public (admission to the Great Hall is free after 5 p.m.) and will be broadcast live from the NASCAR Hall of Fame on NBC Sports Network, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio and NASCAR.com. Fans still have time to lock in their vote for the legends they think should be in the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s seventh induction class by submitting a Fan Vote on NASCAR.com/halloffame. Fans have until Monday, May 18 at 11:59 p.m. ET to vote for five of the 20 nominees for the Class of 2016. The top five nominees with the most fan votes will be cast as the final ballot on Voting Day. 

 

List of NASCAR HOF Race Week activities below:

THURSDAY, MAY 14

"Driven" Movie Premiere (Legends and Champions Club Members Only)

Legends and Champions Club Members are invited to a special movie premiere of the documentary “Driven” on Thursday, May 14 at 5:30 p.m. in the NASCAR Hall of Fame High Octane Theater. Hosted by Michael Waltrip Racing, the documentary features Patrick Staropoli as a University of Miami medical student racing his way to NASCAR. For more information about becoming a member, visit nascarhall.com/membership.

FRIDAY, MAY 15

Racing Insiders Tour: Tour 85

The Racing Insiders Tour is an all-access, in-depth tour in and around Charlotte’s racing community. The Tour 85 itinerary makes stops at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and shops along Interstate 85 including Stewart-Haas Racing, Roush Fenway Racing and Hendrick Motorsports. The tour runs from approximately 9:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit racinginsiderstour.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 16

Simulator Racing Challenge (Members Only)

NASCAR Hall of Fame members are invited to compete in an iRacing simulator challenge in Race Week on Saturday, May 16 beginning at 9 a.m. for the chance to be crowned the simulator racing champion. For more information about becoming a member, visit nascarhall.com/membership. MONDAY, MAY 18

Racing Insiders Tour: Tour 85 The Racing Insiders Tour is an all-access, in-depth tour in and around Charlotte’s racing community. The Tour 85 itinerary makes stops at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and shops along Interstate 85 including Stewart-Haas Racing, Roush Fenway Racing and Hendrick Motorsports. The tour runs from approximately 9:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit racinginsiderstour.com.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20

NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Day VIP Experience (Legends Members Only)

NASCAR Hall of Fame Legends Members will have access to an exclusive area located behind the scenes, just outside the all-important Voting Room at the Charlotte Convention Center. For more information about becoming a member, visit nascarhall.com/membership.

Class of 2016 Announcement (Open to the Public)

The NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2016 and the recipient of the 2016 Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR will be announced live in the Great Hall on Wednesday, May 20 at 6 p.m. ET. The announcement is open to the public (admission to the Great Hall is free after 5 p.m.) and will be broadcast live from the NASCAR Hall of Fame on NBC Sports Network, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio and NASCAR.com.

THURSDAY, MAY 21

Racing Insiders Tour: Tour 77

The Racing Insiders Tour is an all-access, in-depth tour in and around Charlotte’s racing community. The Tour 77 itinerary makes stops at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and shops along Interstate 77 including Joe Gibbs Racing, Penske Racing and Michael Waltrip Racing. The tour runs from approximately 9:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit racinginsiderstour.com.

Circle K and Kangaroo Speed Street Festival Presented by Coca-Cola

As one of the largest street festivals in the Southeast with approximately 400,000 attendees over three days, Speed Street features live entertainment, access to NASCAR stars and interactive activities for the whole family. The Coca-Cola Stage will be located next to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and will feature free live performances by Mike Regan’s All Stars (5:30 p.m.), The Reason You Stayed (7-8 p.m.), Appetite for Destruction, The Ultimate Guns & Roses Experience (8:30 p.m.) and Departure, A Journey Tribute Band (10:30 p.m.). For a full schedule of events, visit 600festival.com.

FRIDAY, MAY 22

Racing Insiders Tour: Tour 85

The Racing Insiders Tour is an all-access, in-depth tour in and around Charlotte’s racing community. The Tour 85 itinerary makes stops at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and shops along Interstate 85 including Stewart-Haas Racing, Roush Fenway Racing and Hendrick Motorsports. The tour runs from approximately 9:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit racinginsiderstour.com.

Historian-Led Tour (Members Only)

Join NASCAR Hall of Fame Historian Buz McKim for an exclusive tour of the NASCAR Hall of Fame at 11 a.m. Learn more about the history and heritage of NASCAR and how it is preserved through artifacts and exhibits at the Hall. For more information about becoming a member, visit nascarhall.com/membership.

Sneak Peek of New Exhibits (Members Only)

NASCAR Hall of Fame members are invited to join the exhibits team in the NASCAR Hall of Fame Legends Room at 2:30 p.m. for a behind-the-scenes look at artifacts included in the newest special exhibit set to open this summer. For more information about becoming a member, visit nascarhall.com/membership.

Circle K and Kangaroo Speed Street Festival Presented by Coca-Cola

As one of the largest street festivals in the Southeast with approximately 400,000 attendees over three days, Speed Street features live entertainment, access to NASCAR stars and interactive activities for the whole family. The Coca-Cola Stage will be located next to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and will feature free live performances by Amy Taylor (6 p.m.), Parmalee (9 p.m.) and Corey Smith (10:30 p.m.) as well as a motorcycle giveaway by the NASCAR Foundation (7 p.m.) and a Q&A with Coca-Cola racing family drivers (8 p.m.). For a full schedule of events, visit 600festival.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 23

PNC Speed Street 5K and Kids 600 Yard Fun Run

The inaugural PNC Speed Street 5K will take place on Saturday, May 23 at 8 a.m. in Uptown Charlotte. The start line will be on Tryon Street and the finish line will be located at the NASCAR Hall of Fame as well as the Speed Street Kids 600 Yard Fun Run that will begin inside the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Glory Road and end on the NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza. The awards celebration will take place on the Coca-Cola Stage at 9:15 a.m. To register, visit speedstreet5k.racesonline.com.

Q&A with NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2016

Join the recently announced Class of 2016 for a moderated Q&A session in the Great Hall at 10 a.m. (subject to change based on Hall of Famer availability). This event is open to the public. General admission is required.

Class of 2016 Autograph Session (Members Only)

NASCAR Hall of Fame members are invited to join the recently announced Class of 2016 for a members-only autograph session in the Hall of Honor from 10:30-11:30 a.m. (subject to change based on Hall of Famer availability). For more information about becoming a member, visit nascarhall.com/membership.

Legends and Champions Club Members Reception with the Class of 2016

Legends and Champion Club Members are invited to a special reception with the recently announced Class of 2016 in the Theater Lobby at 11:30 a.m. (subject to change based on Hall of Famer availability). For more information about becoming a member, visit nascarhall.com/membership.

Circle K and Kangaroo Speed Street Festival Presented by Coca-Cola

As one of the largest street festivals in the Southeast with approximately 400,000 attendees over three days, Speed Street features live entertainment, access to NASCAR stars and interactive activities for the whole family. The Coca-Cola Stage will be located next to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and will feature free live performances by School or Rock (4:30 p.m.), Halfway to Hazard (8 p.m.), Craig Wayne Boyd, winner of “The Voice” (9 p.m.) and Dennis DeYoung and the music of Styx (10:30 p.m.). Additional activities at the Coca-Cola Stage on Saturday, May 23 include Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest (6 p.m.) and a Q&A with Coca-Cola racing family drivers (7 p.m.). For a full schedule of events, visit 600festival.com.

SUNDAY, MAY 24

Special Charter Member Presentation (Charter Members Only)

NASCAR Hall of Fame Charter Members are invited to special ceremony featuring inaugural inductee Junior Johnson in the High Octane Theater at 10 a.m. to honor their commitment and support of the NASCAR Hall of Fame since it opened in 2010.

TUESDAY, MAY 26

Racing Insiders Tour: Tour 85

The Racing Insiders Tour is an all-access, in-depth tour in and around Charlotte’s racing community. The Tour 85 itinerary makes stops at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and shops along Interstate 85 including Stewart-Haas Racing, Roush Fenway Racing and Hendrick Motorsports. The tour runs from approximately 9:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit racinginsiderstour.com.

To accommodate the adrenaline-pumping action and thousands of fans coming to town this month, the NASCAR Hall of Fame will also offer special hours beginning May 15:

May 15-17: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

May 18-20: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

May 21-22: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.

May 23-24: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

May 25-31: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

General admission tickets to the NASCAR Hall of Fame can be purchased by calling (877) 231-2010 or at nascarhall.com. Admission is $19.95 for adults, $17.95 for seniors and military, $12.95 for children 5-12 and free for children younger than 5. Memberships are available starting at $125. The NASCAR Hall of Fame is open daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. For more details, visit nascarhall.com. 

Updates are available at facebook.com/nascarhall or by following @NASCARHall on Twitter.

Patience Pays Off For Staropoli

Late Pass At Irwindale Produces First NASCAR Win

Patrick Staropoli celebrates winning Saturday night's NASCAR K&N Pro Series West
NAPA Auto Parts 150 at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway.
(Victor Decolongon/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Patrick Staropoli played the patient game in his first visit to Irwindale Speedway. The result was the rookie's first NASCAR victory.

The 24-year-old from Plantation, Fla., took the lead on a Lap 137 restart and drove to the win in the NAPA Auto Parts 150. It was just the sixth career start for the Harvard University graduate.

David Mayhew edged Greg Pursley for second, while Staropoli's Bill McAnally Racing teammate Brandon McReynolds came home fourth. Earlier in the day, McReynolds won his first Coors Light Pole Award as the series made its first trip to Irwindale since 2011. Dylan Lupton rounded out the top five.

Giles Thornton was sixth, followed by Brett Thompson, rookie Ryan Partridge, Taylor Cuzick and Carlos Vieira.

Pursley moved six points ahead of McReynolds and Lupton, eight in front of Giles Thornton and nine over Thompson.

The NAPA Auto Parts 150 will air on FOX Sports 1 on Friday, April 4 at noon.

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West will race next at Stockton (Calif.) 99 Speedway on Saturday, May 3.

Waltrip, Holmes, and Staropoli on Bill McAnally Racing Roster

A two time Daytona 500 winner
Michael Waltrip

Michael Waltrip, Eric Holmes and Patrick Staropoli, will join driver Brandon McReynolds to compete for Bill McAnally Racing in select series events in 2014.

Waltrip, a two-time Daytona 500 winner, is slated to race in two series events in 2014. It will mark his fifth straight season of competing in a BMR entry. The co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing has one victory in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Colorado in 1997.

Holmes, a three-time champion in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, is scheduled to compete in select series events for BMR in 2014. In addition to winning series titles in 2006, 2008 and 2010; Holmes has 17 wins and 13 poles in 102 starts.

Patrick Staropoli

Staropoli will return to run five races for BMR in 2014. Staropoli, 24, of Plantation, Fla., had one top-five and two top-10 finishes in two starts for the team in 2013, which followed his winning the PEAK Stock Car Dream Challenge.

BMR has a long history of success in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. The team won five series championships – in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2008 and 2010 – and its multi-car teams have combined for a record 50 series wins.

K&N West Roseville - Fast Facts

EVENT SCHEDULE & ENTRY LIST

NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race at
All American Speedway in Roseville, California

FAST FACTS

The Race: This event is the 13th of 15 events on the 2013 schedule for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West.

The Procedure: The starting field is 24 cars, including provisionals. The first 20 cars will qualify through two-lap time trials. The remaining four spots will be awarded through the provisional process. The race will be 150 laps (50 miles).

The Track: All American Speedway is a .333-mile paved oval with eight degrees banking in Turns 1 and 2. Turns 3 and 4 have progressive banking, beginning at 10 degrees and graduating to 14 degrees. The track hosted five NASCAR K&N Pro Series West events between 1977 and 1982, when it was a quarter-mile oval and nine races since it was renovated prior to the 2008 season.

Records: Qualifying: Jason Bowles, April 4, 2009, 88.218 mph, 13.589 sec.; Race: Eric Holmes, April 4, 2009, 67.576 mph, 44 minutes 21 seconds.

ROSEVILLE RACE NOTES

Waltrip Returns: Michael Waltrip is set to make his second start this season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, competing at All American Speedway for Bill McAnally Racing – which is based nearby. It will mark the eighth career series start for Waltrip, a two-time winner of the Daytona 500. He finished 11th at Spokane (Wash.) County Raceway in August. His only series win came at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Fountain, Colo., in 1997.

Veteran Motorsports Reporter Honored As Grand Marshal: Long-time motorsports announcer and reporter Dr. Dick Berggren will be honored as the Grand Marshal for the Roseville race. Berggren was a pit reporter for NASCAR on Fox for more than a decade before retiring last year. During his announcing career, he worked NASCAR races for ESPN, CBS, TBS and TNN. He also served as the editor of Stock Car Racing magazine and later started Speedway Illustrated.

Las Vegas Champion: Fresh from winning the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Super Late Model championship at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Jay Beasley is set to make his second start in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. Beasley, who has been selected to participate in the 2013 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Combine, wrapped up the super late model title with a win on Saturday.

Local Driver To Make Series Debut: Local driver Jason Romero – who won a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series late model championship at All American Speedway, as well as titles in the mini stock division there – is slated to make his debut in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West on Saturday.

Tyrrell Is Back: Luis Tyrrell, who has one top five and two top 10 finishes in two series starts, is set to compete at All American Speedway. The 17-year-old is from Brisbane, Calif.

Second Start For Staropoli: Patrick Staropoli, who won the PEAK Stock Car Dream Challenge earlier this year, returns for his second race in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. In the PEAK Challenge, nine stock car racing hopefuls competed for the chance to become a Michael Waltrip Racing development driver. Staropoli, who finished fifth in his series debut at Spokane, will again be driving a Bill McAnally Racing entry.

Other Drivers Make Their Return: Several other drivers entered in the Roseville race are also preparing for their second series start. Phyl Zubizareta of Boise, Idaho, returns after finishing 11th in his first race at Monroe, Wash., in August. After being sidelined with mechanical trouble last week at Albuquerque, N.M., Jim Weiler of Sonoma, Calif., is set for another start. Shane Golobic is also set to make his second appearance in the series. Golobic – a sprint car driver from Fremont, Calif. – failed to qualify in making his series debut in May.

Media Get Chance Behind The Wheel: Media members from the Sacramento area will get a chance to get behind the wheel of a stock car at All American Speedway this week. Bill McAnally Racing Promotions will have two stock cars at the track on Wednesday morning to give local media a chance to get a first-hand account of what it’s like to wheel a stock car around the banked third-mile oval.

Big Day Of Competition: Race promoter, Bill McAnally Racing Promotions, has put together another great lineup of competition for the Roseville event. In addition to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series late models will be in competing and the Legends of the Pacific will also be in action.

Benefit For Breast Cancer Endowment: As part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a portion of the proceeds from the Roseville event will go to the Placer County Breast Cancer Endowment, a local non-profit organization.

LAST TIME OUT: Albuquerque

Another Win For Pursley: Greg Pursley scored his fourth win of the season and 17th of his career with a victory in the NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by NAPA AutoCare Centers at NAPA Speedway in Albuquerque, N.M., on Sept. 28. With it, he moved into a tie with Eric Holmes and Bill Sedgwick for eighth on the list of all-time career series wins.

Thorn Takes The Pole: Derek Thorn turned the fastest lap during qualifying at Albuquerque to garner the Coors Light Pole Award. It marked his second pole of the year and third career pole.

Leading The Way: The father and son team of Carl and Daryl Harr were up front, running 1-2, for a considerable portion of the race at Albuquerque. Carl led 51 laps before eventually finishing ninth. Daryl ran second to his father and went on to finish 14th.

Strong Debut: Several newcomers to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West had a notable debut at Albuquerque. Eighteen-year-old Chase Briscoe of Mitchell, Ind., started sixth and finished eighth. JD White of Liberal, Kan., led six laps before finishing 11th. Jay Beasley of Las Vegas started eighth and ran in the top 10 throughout the event before being sidelined late with electrical trouble.

Career Mark: Series veteran John Wood came away from Albuquerque with a top 10, matching his career best finish of 10th.

NEXT TIME OUT: Bakersfield

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West will make its inaugural visit to Kern County Raceway Park near Bakersfield, Calif., for the NAPA Auto Parts 150 on Saturday, Oct. 26.The high-banked, half-mile track – which opened earlier this year – is located west of Bakersfield, along Interstate 5.

PEAK Stock Car Dream Challenge Winner

Patrick Staropoli Wins the 2013 PEAK SCD Challenge!

Watch as Danica Patrick, Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr, Michal Waltrip and others give advice on his next challenge...taking on the NASCAR K&N West Series at the Spokane County Raceway on Aug 24th, 2013 under the watchful eye of team owner, Bill McAnally.

Patrick Staropoli's father and grandfather were professional stock car drivers who owned their own auto repair shops, so it seemed logical that he would enter the family business. Star Racing was established in 1986 by Nick Staropoli and built into a successful race team in South Florida. The family tradition has continued as Patrick Staropoli now pilots the #97 Super Late Model in Florida.

Highlights of a three-day contest where ten drivers compete for a spot on Michael Waltrip's developmental team can be seen: 

• Sun 8/11 at 9:00PM-10:00PM On Speed 
• Mon 8/12 at 1:00AM-2:00AM On Speed 
• Fri 8/16 at 6:30PM-7:30PM On Speed

Patrick Staropoli, #97 Super Late Model