Dr. Patrick Staropoli and the Foundation Fighting Blindness announced today a partnership that will see the organization serve as the primary partner on the No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet for the ARCA Menards Series General Tire 100 at the Glen on Friday, May 8, 2026
Staropoli’s work away from the racetrack makes the partnership a natural fit. In addition to competing in stock cars, Staropoli is a vitreoretinal surgeon at Retina Consultants of Texas and completed residency and fellowship training at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. The Foundation Fighting Blindness’ mission is to drive research toward prevention, treatments, and cures for people affected by retinal degenerative diseases.
“It is an honor to have the Foundation Fighting Blindness on board the No. 51,” Staropoli said. “The patient registry they have developed and the research that the foundation supports are critical to helping patients with retinal disease. While I have the opportunity to discuss their work with my patients on a daily basis, racing gives us a platform to amplify this message on a larger scale and to let fans know they can be part of the fight.”
“Patrick brings an authenticity to this partnership that’s rare. He lives this mission both as a physician and as a competitor,” said Chris Adams, VP of Marketing at the Foundation Fighting Blindness. “Our goal is to accelerate research that leads to treatments and cures for retinal diseases, and this program helps us broaden awareness, engage new supporters, and keep the focus where it belongs: on impact for the people and families we serve.”
To learn more about the Foundation Fighting Blindness and ways to get involved, visit fightingblindness.org.
The ARCA Menards Series General Tire 100 at the Glen is scheduled for Friday, May 8 with live coverage at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS2 and streaming on the FOX Sports app
