Chase Elliott Foundation “DESI9N TO DRIVE”

Racing Shoes to Benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta #desi9ntodrive

The Chase Elliott Foundation officially re-launched its fourth annual "DESI9N TO DRIVE" art collaboration with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (Children's), the largest healthcare provider for children in Georgia. Elliott and his three Hendrick Motorsports teammates will wear racing shoes designed by four Children's patients (or siblings of patients) during this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on June 7.

Patients at Children’s submitted color sketches of racing shoes depicting their "big dreams" and four sketches were selected to be replicated on the Alpinestars racing shoes worn by the Hendrick Motorsports drivers. Beginning today, each of the four racing shoes are being auctioned online for nine days, ending June 14.

Auction proceeds go to the Chase Elliott Foundation to benefit Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Covid-19 fund and the summer camp program that Children’s runs for its large patient network. Children's Covid-19 fund helps provide needed support, supplies and equipment for their most fragile patients and frontline workers.

"Wearing these special racing shoes and meeting the designers behind DESI9N TO DRIVE is one of the great things we do all season," said Elliott, a Dawsonville, Ga., native and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner in the No. 9 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. "We've been fortunate to raise a significant amount of money over the last few years to enable more patients to enjoy time at summer camp and away from the hospital. In addition, this year my foundation will match the auction proceeds and make a separate donation to the Children's Covid-19 fund."

Elliott's teammates at Hendrick Motorsports include drivers Jimmie Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR Cup Champion, Alex Bowman and William Byron.

"Children's Healthcare of Atlanta is honored to be able to continue our partnership with Chase Elliott on the DESI9N TO DRIVE program, which helps expand our summer camp program offerings to meet the needs of our growing patient population," said Beth Buursema, senior director, corporate partnerships at Children's. "To have Chase also make a sizeable donation to our Covid-19 fund helps enable Children's to properly and safely care for our patients and families during this difficult time."

The DESI9N TO DRIVE program has raised and donated over $100,000 from the auction and corporate partner support in its first three years.

I’ll be rocking these shoes for tomorrow’s race at Atlanta. They’re up for auction to benefit @childrensatl check it out 👇🏼https://t.co/48LUKwkI60 #Desi9nToDrive pic.twitter.com/d06Cv9bhxs

— Alex Bowman (@AlexBowman88) June 6, 2020

The winning racing shoe sketches were submitted by three patients and one patient sibling at Children’s ranging in age from five to 14 years old. The Hendrick drivers picked their favorite sketch, resulting in the following driver-designer pairings:

• Chase Elliott – Brooke Winokur, age 8

• Jimmie Johnson – Evelyn Odell, age 5 (older sister of patient)

• Alex Bowman – Justin Mingo, age 14

• William Byron – Julia Hope Sears, age 9

Following the race, each driver will sign their respective racing shoes, which are being auctioned off through June 14 at the online auction site of the NASCAR Foundation located at nascarfoundation.org/chaseelliott.

Several corporate partners are matching the highest winning bid of Elliott's shoes in the online auction, including NAPA AUTO PARTS, Mountain Dew, Hooters, Kelley Blue Book, Valvoline, and SunTrust.

ABOUT CHASE ELLIOTT FOUNDATION

The Chase Elliott Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing support and financial assistance to well-qualified charitable organizations with an emphasis on helping others live healthier, happier lives. Elliott is the driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE race car for Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series. Elliott was voted the NASCAR Cup Series Most Popular Driver in 2018 and 2019. Visit chaseelliott.com/foundation for more information.

ABOUT CHILDREN’S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA

As the only freestanding pediatric healthcare system in Georgia, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is the trusted leader in caring for kids. The not-for-profit organization’s mission is to make kids better today and healthier tomorrow through more than 60 pediatric specialties and programs, top healthcare professionals, and leading research and technology. Children’s is one of the largest pediatric clinical care providers in the country, managing more than one million patient visits annually at three hospitals, Marcus Autism Center, the Center for Advanced Pediatrics and 20 neighborhood locations. Consistently ranked among the top children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has impacted the lives of kids in Georgia, across the United States and around the world for more than 100 years thanks to generous support from the community. Visit choa.org for more information.

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Sprint Cup BK Racing Signs Truex & Bowman

Ryan Truex (left) and Alex Bowman (right) will drive
for BK Racing in 2014. (HHP Photos)

BK Racing has signed Alex Bowman and Ryan Truex to pilot the team’s No. 23 and No. 83 Toyota Camry’s and compete for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors during the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

Bowman, who will drive the newly renumbered No. 23 entry, is coming off his rookie season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series which saw him win two poles and finish 11th in the final standings. Truex made four starts between the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Camping World Truck Series this past season.

Both Bowman and Truex tested for BK Racing in the NASCAR Preseason Thunder at Daytona Int’l Speedway last week and have already begun to create a relationship with their respected teams and crew chiefs. Dave Winston will crew chief the No. 23 BK Racing entry with Bowman while Dale Ferguson will crew chief the No. 83 BK Racing entry for Truex.

BK Racing has also finalized an agreement with Borla Exhaust as a primary sponsor for the Daytona 500. The deal signifies a multi-race sponsorship for the 2014 season. More details will be released this week.

In 2011, Bowman collected Rookie of the Year honors in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East as well as two victories in the ARCA Racing Series. The following year he competed full-time in ARCA and picked up four victories and collected Rookie of the Year Award there as well. In 2013, Bowman competed for Rookie of the Year honors in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and collected two poles at Texas Motor Speedway.

“This is an extremely good opportunity for me,” said Bowman. “Ron (Devine) and I first started talking about the possibilities months ago. I’m happy to be a part of this organization.”

In 2009 and 2010, Truex won two consecutive NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championships along with five victories in the series. Since 2011, Truex has made starts in all three NASCAR national touring series, including a career-best 2nd place finish at Dover in a Nationwide Series in 2012.

“Driving in the Sprint Cup Series has been a goal since I started racing, and to start this next chapter with BK Racing makes it extra special,” said Truex. “I am very excited for this opportunity.”

“Alex and Ryan have always impressed me,” said team owner Ron Devine. “Both take care of their cars and have shown speed at every level they have competed in. With their abilities, we feel they can both excel in our equipment. As a team we are very excited, and their abilities to work with everyone here at BK Racing will be important.”

In an effort to better align with long-time partner Dr. Pepper, BK Racing will renumber the No. 93 to the No. 23 in 2014. The number is synonymous with the regular Dr. Pepper’s original 23 flavors. The No. 93 will remain with the team on a part-time basis in 2014.

“Since we started BK Racing in February of 2012, I always wanted the No. 23,” said Devine. “We feel like the relationship with Dr Pepper is very strong and this will take it to the next level.”

Bowman and Truex join an already stacked NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie group for 2014 that also includes Kyle Larson (Chip Ganassi Racing), Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing), Parker Kligerman (Swan Racing), Cole Whitt (Swan Racing), Justin Allgaier (Phoenix Racing) and Michael Annett (Tommy Baldwin Racing).

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