Casey Elliott

The son of NASCAR engine builder Ernie Elliott and nephew of 1988 Winston Cup Series champion Bill Elliott,^[2] Casey Elliott grew up among racers and racing, and, taking up the sport as a career in his teens, quickly proved adept at competition, racing at Lanier Raceway and other tracks in Georgia.^[3] By 1993, at age eighteen,^[4] he was ready to move up to top level NASCAR competition; in addition to running full-time in the Slim Jim All Pro Series,^[5] he formed Casey Elliott Sports with his parents and sisters to compete in the Xfinity Series with Eagle Snacks sponsorship,^[6] and the team ran two races that year. He qualified in the top ten for both events, finishing 20th in his debut at Michigan International Speedway;^[7] in October at Charlotte Motor Speedway he started fourth, outqualifying his more famous uncle,^[8] but finished 44th following an accident.^[7]

Elliott planned to compete full-time in the Busch Series (later Xfinity) starting in 1994;^[9] however, in December 1993, a medical examination revealed that a growth on his upper right thigh was cancerous. He had surgery to remove it in February 1994; ^[10] although it was believed that the cancer had been confined to the removed tumor,^[11] and Elliott initially showed improvement,^[12] the cancer had already metastasized; not long afterwards Elliott required knee replacement surgery, ending his racing career.^[4] Elliott stated his intention to take up a career as a minister with Motor Racing Outreach.^[4]

Over the next two years he underwent treatment, however in late 1995 his condition deteriorated;^[13] in January 1996, he died of the disease.^[14] Jerry Glanville, coach of the Atlanta Falcons and a part-time NASCAR competitor whom Elliott had been scheduled to crew chief for during the 1996 season,^[15] described Elliott as "a super, super kid";^[16] Lanier National Speedway established the annual Casey Elliott Memorial Race in his honor.^[17]

Chase Elliott, Casey Elliott's cousin, ran a tribute paint scheme on his NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series car at Darlington Raceway in the 2018 Bojangles' Southern 500, designed to resemble the one driven by Casey.^[18]