Chase Elliott celebrated in the victory lane of the Quaker State 400. But his car designer made this event special for him. With 11-year-old Rhealynn Mills designing the paint scheme on his No. 9 Chevrolet, he drove it off to a win. It was a part of his annual “DESI9N TO DRIVE” charity program.
The car helped raise money and awareness for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and this year’s scheme had a personal message from Mills: “Cure Cancer” and “healing kids like me.”
Chase Elliott Opens Up About What Made His Victory Celebrations Truly ‘Unique’
On Saturday, June 28, Elliott held off Brad Keselowski in a close finish and snapped a 44-race winless streak at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta. The win also secured his spot in the NASCAR Playoffs and advanced him to the second round of the In-Season Tournament, which continues Sunday in Chicago.
CHASE ELLIOTT WINS IN ATLANTA! pic.twitter.com/EQfNV9JuNR
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 29, 2025
Rhealynn Mills, a cancer patient at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, was the featured designer for Elliott’s No. 9 car in Atlanta. She was diagnosed with Metastatic Osteosarcoma in 2022 and has gone through 19 surgeries, including the amputation of her right leg. Her artwork, chosen from other patient submissions, included stethoscopes, heart monitors, and childhood cancer ribbons.
The partnership between Elliott and Mills goes beyond just the paint scheme. Since its inception, the “DESI9N TO DRIVE” program has raised over $500,000 for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Each year, Elliott selects a young patient’s artwork to feature on his car for the Atlanta race, giving these brave kids a moment in the spotlight while raising awareness for their battles.
Ahead of the Chicago race weekend, Elliott was asked during a press conference to share what stood out to him from his victory celebrations last weekend. The 29-year-old responded, saying that it was the presence of the 11-year-old Mills that made the moment truly special.
“I mean, you know, just having lived it right, and the experience with Rhealynn (Mills) there after the race and just seeing her kind of open up and see her excitement, go from this shy little girl that didn’t know anything about racing to celebrating in victory lane with us at the end of the night. It was just really special to kinda see that transition and have my mom there and other family members and friends and all that,” Elliott shared.
Chase Elliott on what about the Atlanta winning celebration of last week, in reliving any of the celebration, stood out to him this week. @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/si7Ww5vGU1
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) July 5, 2025
“You know, those things just make those moments unique, and you know, I am grateful for them, and just the whole experience was incredible. So yeah, it was… couldn’t really have asked for any more last week. Obviously, it all worked out in our favor, and hopefully, we can do it more often,” the No. 9 driver added.
Elliott’s Dramatic Path to Victory Lane
The Georgia native’s win came in a race filled with wrecks and weather delays. Joey Logano started on the pole and led the early laps, but rain on lap 37 halted the race. A multi-car crash on lap 57 knocked out contenders Ryan Blaney and Christopher Bell.
Then, on lap 69, a massive 23-car pileup wiped out winning contenders like Denny Hamlin, William Byron, and others. Elliott avoided the chaos and stayed up front, leading 41 laps total and winning the race with a last-lap pass on Keselowski. The dramatic finish capped off what many called one of the most unpredictable races of the season.
Elliott’s victory was especially meaningful given his recent struggles. The Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) driver had gone more than a year without a win, with his last victory coming at Dover in April 2023. The drought had raised questions about his championship potential, but the Atlanta win silenced those doubts and put him back in contention for the playoffs.
The win marked the 20th of Elliott’s Cup Series career. He now sits second in the Cup Series points standings, just 37 points behind teammate Byron. With momentum building and the playoffs approaching, Elliott looks poised to make another championship run after winning the title in 2020.
Mills’ presence in victory lane added an emotional layer to what was already a significant moment for Elliott and his team. Her courage and positive spirit, combined with Elliott’s long-awaited return to victory lane, created a celebration that will be remembered long after the checkered flag.