Casey Elliott

Casey Elliott

Elliott with his 1993 All Pro Series car
Born (1974-02-13)February 13, 1974
Dawsonville, Georgia, United States
Died January 14, 1996(1996-01-14) (aged 21)
Dawsonville, Georgia, USA
Cause of death Bone cancer
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
2 races run over 1 year
Best finish 81st – 1993
First race 1993 Detroit Gasket 200 (Michigan)
Last race 1993 All Pro 300 (Charlotte)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0

Casey Elliott (February 13, 1974 – January 14, 1996) was an American stock car racing driver. The nephew of 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup champion Bill Elliott, he raced in the NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series and Xfinity Series before being diagnosed with cancer; he turned to the motorsports ministry and crew chiefing before his death from the disease at age 21.

Career

The son of NASCAR engine builder Ernie Elliott and nephew of 1988 Winston Cup Series champion Bill Elliott,[1] 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.[2] By 1993, at age eighteen,[3] he was ready to move up to top level NASCAR competition; in addition to running full-time in the Slim Jim All Pro Series,[4] his uncle formed a team to compete in the Xfinity Series with Eagle Snacks sponsorship,[5] 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;[6] in October at Charlotte Motor Speedway he started fourth, outqualifying his more famous uncle,[7] but finished 44th following an accident.[6]

Cancer and death

Elliott planned to compete full-time in the Busch Series starting in 1994;[8] 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; [9] although it was believed that the cancer had been confined to the removed tumor,[10] and Elliott initially showed improvement,[11] the cancer had already metastasized; not long afterwards Elliott required knee replacement surgery, ending his racing career.[3] Elliott stated his intention to take up a career as a minister with Motor Racing Outreach.[3]

Over the next two years he underwent treatment, however in late 1995 his condition deteriorated;[12] in January 1996, he died of the disease.[13] 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,[14] described Elliott as "a super, super kid";[15] Lanier National Speedway established the annual Casey Elliott Memorial Race in his honor.[16]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Busch Series

ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Elliott and Millard 2006, p.115
  2. ↑ "Mother Of Bill Elliott Dies". Waycross Journal-Herald. Waycross, GA. June 27, 1991. p. 10. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  3. 1 2 3 Elliott and Millard 2006, p.240
  4. ↑ D'Amato, Gary (July 3, 1993). "A successful race here could attract a Winston Cup event in the future". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Milwaukee, WI. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  5. ↑ Elliott and Millard 2006, p. 221
  6. 1 2 "Casey Elliott - NASCAR Nationwide Series Results". Racing-Reference. USA Today Sports Media Group. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  7. ↑ Zeller, Bob. "Non-winner Dotter takes record Charlotte Grand National pole". The Virginian-Pilot. Norfolk, VA. p. C5. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  8. ↑ "Auto Racing Notebook". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta, GA. November 5, 1993. p. E11. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  9. ↑ "Casey Elliott has surgery to remove cancerous growth". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta, GA. February 12, 1994. p. D3. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  10. ↑ "Casey Elliott sidelined". Rome News-Tribune. Rome, GA. December 24, 1993. p. 11A. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  11. ↑ "Ronnie Sanders attempting to make field at Talladega". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta, GA. April 28, 1994. p. E10. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  12. ↑ "Elliott's thoughts with nephew: Casey Elliott's 18-month battle with cancer takes a turn for the worse". Roanoke Times. Roanoke, VA. October 28, 1995. p. B4. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  13. ↑ "Cancer claims Casey Elliott". The Hour. Norwalk, CT. January 15, 1996. p. 15. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  14. ↑ "Riding along". Southeast Missourian. Cape Girardeau, MO. February 12, 1996. p. 2B. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
  15. ↑ "Casey Elliott mourned". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta, GA. January 19, 1996. p. F4. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  16. ↑ "Lanier race pays tribute to late Casey Elliott". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta, GA. October 2, 1998. p. D6. Retrieved 2012-06-27.

Bibliography

  • Elliott, Bill; Chris Millard (2006). Awesome Bill from Dawsonville: My Life in NASCAR. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-0611-2574-4. 
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