Who Drives the Big Machine Racing No. 48 in 2026?
What’s Happening? Most NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series teams have their lineups set for the coming season, though now a winning…
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Monday night, actor turned NASCAR driver Frankie Muniz claimed that he knows which driver will fill a high-profile ride for the 2026 NASCAR season, saying that “most will be surprised.”
Last week, NASCAR driver Nick Sanchez announced he and Big Machine Racing were parting ways ahead of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, in what appears to be an abrupt change in course for the team’s plans.
This move was surprising, as there are very few notable free agent names left on the board for 2026, and on Monday, we at the Daily Downforce discussed what options were left for BMR to fill that ride ahead of the coming season.
In response to our discussion article, Frankie Muniz, former star of shows like Malcolm in the Middle, who now races full-time for Team Reaume in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, responded, saying that he knows who will drive the No. 48 in 2026, and that the answer would shock most NASCAR fans.
So, who might this surprise driver be?
One name that we mentioned in our article was a part of the fleet of part-time drivers who raced in the Toyota camp last season, Patrick Staropoli.
Though the 36-year-old has not commented on his status for the upcoming season, his name has floated around the rumor mill for some time.
In fact, the responses to this feature article featured many images, emojis, or puns related to eyes or doctors, a reference to Staropoli, who, alongside his part-time racing efforts, is a Vitreoretinal Surgeon and graduate of both Harvard and the University of Miami Medical School.
Muniz wasn’t the only driver to respond to the post, with former full-time Cup Series driver Corey LaJoie responding with star emojis, once again, a hint that lends support towards the rumors about Staropoli.
What’s Happening? Most NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series teams have their lineups set for the coming season, though now a winning…
In the mid-2010s, fans of grassroots racing knew Staropoli for his efforts in the then-NASCAR K&N Pro Series (now ARCA Menards) East and West Series.
From 2013 to 2015, Staropoli made nine starts across the two series and even won the 2014 K&N Pro Series West race at Irwindale after leading just 14 laps.
In 2016, the then 26-year-old also made his NASCAR National Series debut in the 2016 Camping World Truck Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, bringing SS-Greenlight Racing’s No. 07 home in 31st.
After the 2016 season, Staropoli, now 36, did not return to racing until this season, making four NASCAR Xfinity Series, Four Craftsman Truck Series, and five ARCA Menards Series starts for teams in the Toyota camp.
Perhaps his best finish of the season came in the Martinsville Xfinity Series playoff race in October for Sam Hunt Racing, with Staropoli starting 33rd, driving his way up to 9th, before bringing home the No. 24 in 17th.
As of press time, most of the dialogue surrounding Staropoli and Big Machine Racing is rumor and speculation, and neither party has announced plans to race together in 2026.
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