Staropoli Makes Modified Tour Debut with Driving to Fight Blindness Car
In a groundbreaking initiative to combat blindness and advance research, we are proud to announce the launch of the Driving to Fight Blindness Campaign. This initiative will utilize a motorsports platform to raise awareness for vitreoretinal disease and help prevent blindness. Patrick Staropoli, a retina specialist at Retina Consultants of Texas and NASCAR winning racecar driver, will help spearhead this initiative in several races during the 2024 season.
The campaign aims to help make patients aware of new clinical trials and important advancements in the field, as well as to increase access for patients to research and eye care providers in their communities.
A dual-threat on and off the racetrack, Patrick Staropoli brings a wealth of experience as both a racecar driver and a retina specialist. "It’s a dream come true to work on a project that combines my two greatest passions – medicine and motorsports," said Patrick. "I hope this campaign is a rallying point for our patients and that we will help accomplish meaningful advancements in our fight against blindness.”
As part of the campaign, Staropoli and the Driving to Fight Blindness racecar will compete in select races with the Coulter Motorsports/Rum Runner Racing #97 Tour Type Modified as well as the Jim McCoy Racing #64 Super Late Model. The first race will be this Friday, May 24th in the Kenny Minter Classic SMART Modified Tour race at Franklin County Speedway in Virginia.
“This is a really awesome situation for myself and for Rum Runner Racing. Patrick and I are long time racing friends growing up in gokarts and at Hialeah Speedway. Having him in one of our cars is really an honor,” said Joey Coulter, VP of Operations at Coulter Motorsports. “The whole Coulter Motorsports and Rum Runner Racing Team is proud to support his campaign Driving to Fight Blindness and we are looking forward to a great race at Franklin County Speedway for the Kenny Minter Classic.”
"Our entire team is proud to support Dr. Staropoli and the Driving to Fight Blindness Campaign. We share a common purpose to fight and end blindness," said Kurt Defenbaugh, Chief Operating Officer at Retina Consultants of Texas. "As leaders in the field of retina care, we understand the importance of advancing research and raising awareness of the diseases we battle. Together, we can drive healing and hope to help countless patients maintain their dignity and independence. We are fighting blindness for the world to see.”
With each lap on track, the Driving to Fight Blindness Campaign aims to accelerate towards a future where preventable blindness is a thing of the past. For more information about the Driving to Fight Blindness Campaign and how you can get involved, please visit patrickstaropoli.com/dtfb
About Patrick Staropoli:
Patrick Staropoli is a retina specialist and racecar driver based in Houston, TX. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Harvard University and a vitreoretinal surgeon who completed training at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute – the #1 ranked Eye Hospital in the United States. Staropoli is also the only physician in history to win a NASCAR race, and he is passionate about using this platform to help in the fight against blindness.
About Retina Consultants of Texas:
Retina Consultants of Texas is the largest retina-only ophthalmology practice in Texas and one of the most respected in the United States. All Retina Consultants of Texas physicians are board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and specialize exclusively in diseases and surgery of the retina, vitreous, and macula. Our commitment is to provide world-class expertise in the medical and surgical care of patients with retinal diseases throughout Texas and beyond while advancing science through cutting-edge research.
About Coulter Motorsports & Rum Runner Racing:
Since 1999, Coulter Motorsports has fielded racecars in several top-tier racing series including the NASCAR ARCA Series, PASS Super Late Models, UARA Late Model Stock Car Series, and USAR Hooter Pro Cup. Coulter Motorsports currently fields the #2 entry for Ryan Newan (Daytona 500 Winner and SRX Champion) in the SMART Modified Tour. The dirt racing division, Rum Runner Racing has fielded winning cars in multiple national and regional dirt super late model racing series and currently fields the #02 SMART Modified Tour entry for Joey Coulter (NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series winner and 2011 Sunoco Rookie of the Year).
About Jim McCoy Racing:
Formed in 1990, Jim McCoy Racing has a long history of fielding competitive super late models in the southeast United States for drivers such as Bobby Coyle, Joe Winchell, and most recently finding success with Patrick Staropoli. The #64 is supported by Umatilla Veterans Village, Gator Plumbing, Sunoco, and Shadow Graphics.
