The Chase Elliott Foundation’s “DESI9N TO DRIVE” Program is back for the ninth year and will once again benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. This year, Chase Elliott and the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports team will have a paint scheme designed by 11-year-old cancer patient Rhealynn Mills.
After dozens of patients submitted designs for the contest, Mills was selected as the winner of the competition, and her designs will adorn Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet race car, as well as his firesuit, helmet, gloves, and race shows for the upcoming Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway on Saturday, June 28.
Elliott explains that Mills and all of the children he meets through his foundation’s work with Children’s Healthcare are an inspiration.
“Every year, the DESI9N TO DRIVE program reminds me why I love what I do,” said Chase Elliott, a Dawsonville, Ga. native. “These kids pour their hearts into their artwork, and getting to meet them and see their creativity up close is incredibly inspiring. Partnering with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and NAPA at my home track always makes this one of the most meaningful weekends of the season.”
Mills suffered an injury while playing softball a few years ago. After going to Children’s for a second opinion on the injury in October 2022, Mills was diagnosed with Metastatic Osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, which spreads from the original location to other parts of the body.
The brave young patient would undergo an amputation of her right leg. 19 surgeries later, Mills would be fitted with a prosthetic leg. Incredibly, Mills hopes to resume playing softball soon.
NAPA Auto Parts, which is back as a primary sponsorship partner of the “DESI9N TO DRIVE” paint scheme, is honored to take part in the program.
“It’s a privilege to once again team up with Chase and his foundation to support the incredible work being done at Children’s,” said Emily Schneider, Senior Director of Marketing at NAPA. “We’re excited to unveil the inspiring designs on the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet and are proud to play a part in driving awareness and support through this year’s sweepstakes.”
Fans are encouraged to go to desi9ntodrive.org to learn more about the program. The website also features a fundraising sweepstakes, which will allow fans to enter for a chance to win part of Elliott’s race-worn Atlanta uniform or a VIP meet-and-greet experience with Elliott. All donations will benefit the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s, which opened with a new hospital campus last fall. The sweepstakes begins on June 11th and closes on July 9th.
