Big Machine Racing — Team Profile
Series: O'Reilly Auto Parts Series | Manufacturer: Chevrolet Organization Tier: Mid-Tier
2026 O'Reilly Program
Big Machine Racing fields the No. 48 Chevrolet full-time in 2026, driven by Patrick Staropoli — one of the most distinctive personal stories in the garage. Staropoli is a practicing physician who lost vision in one eye earlier in his career and continues to race at the national level. His primary sponsor, Syfovre (a retinal disease treatment), is directly connected to his own medical history and advocacy work.
| Car | Driver | Crew Chief |
|---|---|---|
| No. 48 | Patrick Staropoli | Patrick Donahue |
The Organization
Big Machine Racing is an O'Reilly Series program associated with Scott Borchetta and the Big Machine Label Group, one of Nashville's most prominent independent music labels. The team has fielded cars at the national level across multiple seasons and brings a distinctive brand identity that extends beyond the typical racing sponsor framework.
2026 Story
Big Machine's 2026 file is primarily a character and platform story. Staropoli's combination of medical career, personal health history, and full-time NASCAR competition makes him one of the most compelling human-interest profiles in the sport. Through eight races he is 19th in points with zero DNFs — clean, consistent mid-pack execution from a driver managing demands that no other competitor in the field shares.
For GNT, the most interesting coverage angle is not purely results-based. The story of a doctor who races at NASCAR's national level, sponsored by the treatment for a disease connected to his own vision history, is a feature waiting to be told properly.