DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — The Chase Elliott Foundation has partnered with NAPA Auto Parts and Hendrick Motorsports to expand the fifth edition of its "Desi9n To Drive" art collaboration with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
The latest iteration includes a full design makeover of Chase Elliott's driver uniform and No. 9 race car for the upcoming race at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 5.
Sketched designs by Children's cancer patients will be depicted on Elliott's racing suit, gloves, shoes and helmet in addition to a full paint out of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE. Also, the Alpinestars racing shoes of Elliott's three Hendrick Motorsports teammates—Kyle Larson, William Byron and Alex Bowman—will feature sketched designs by Children's patients.
"NAPA Auto Parts and Hendrick Motorsports stepped up in a big way to make Desi9n To Drive the overall team theme for Darlington." said Elliott, a Dawsonville, Ga. native and the defending 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. "It's a really cool way to showcase the great work that Children's Healthcare of Atlanta does for the children in the region. Our hope is the expanded program will capture more attention to what Children's is doing with cancer treatment and result in our biggest fundraising campaign in the five years we've been doing this program."
The adapted designs were submitted by eight patients at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's in Atlanta, ranging in age from 6 to 15 years old.
- No. 9 car paint scheme – Mary Francis Webb, age 15;
- Elliott helmet – Rocco Corsini, 10;
- Elliott racing suit – Isadri Hernandez, 14;
- Elliott gloves – Briley Lamon, 10;
- Elliott racing shoes – Nolan Madsen, 11;
- Larson racing shoes – Lex Stolle, 12;
- Bowman racing shoes – Elise Sullens, 8; and
- Byron racing shoes – Branson Gibby, 6.
"We are so excited and grateful that the Chase Elliott Foundation has expanded the Desi9n To Drive art collaboration to showcase the creativity and strength of our kids receiving treatment at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's," said Beth Buursema, senior development director at the Children's Foundation. "As one of the largest pediatric cancer and blood disorder programs in the country, we care for more than 8,000 pediatric patients every year from 43 states across the U.S. This continued collaboration will bring hope to those patients while furthering our mission of making kids better today and healthier tomorrow."
The program has raised and donated over $160,000 to Children's from the auction of autographed racing shoes and corporate partner support in its first four years.
Several items will be auctioned off via The NASCAR Foundation's auction page on eBay from Sept. 2-8. Each item will include an authenticated autograph of the respective driver.
All auction proceeds go to the Chase Elliott Foundation to benefit the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's.