NASCAR Community Extends Condolences as Elliott Family Mourns Matriarch Sheila
The NASCAR garage feels a little emptier today. That familiar warmth that comes from having someone who truly understands what this sport means to families is gone. Sheila Gwendolyn Elliott, the heart and soul behind one of stock car racing’s most beloved dynasties, passed away Tuesday at her Dawsonville home. She was 74 years old.
If you’ve followed NASCAR for any length of time, you know the Elliott name carries weight. But behind every great racing family, there’s usually someone keeping everything together, someone who makes sure the important things never get lost in the chaos of competition. That person was Sheila Elliott.
Sheila Elliott: The Woman Behind NASCAR’s First Family
Born August 22, 1951, to Herbert and Bobbie Goswick, Sheila spent her entire life in Dawson County, Georgia. This wasn’t some outsider who married into racing. She was mountain folk through and through, the kind of person who understood that success comes from hard work, family loyalty, and never forgetting where you came from.
When she married Ernie Elliott 55 years ago, she wasn’t just getting a husband. She was becoming part of something bigger, something that would eventually touch millions of race fans around the world. As co-owner of Ernie Elliott, Inc., she helped build the engine program that would power some of the most memorable moments in NASCAR history.
But here’s what made Sheila special: she never let the success go to her head. Racing wives deal with pressure that most people can’t imagine. Your husband’s out there every weekend risking everything, your family’s livelihood depends on how well an engine runs, and everybody’s watching to see how you handle the spotlight. Sheila handled it with grace that made it look effortless.
A Life Dedicated to Family and Racing Excellence
The Elliott racing empire didn’t build itself. While Ernie was crafting engines that would make Bill Elliott “Awesome Bill from Dawsonville,” and later, while Chase Elliott was learning to drive anything with wheels, Sheila was the foundation that kept everything stable. She understood that racing success means nothing if you lose your family in the process.
Those who knew her describe someone who genuinely loved people. She enjoyed traveling, probably getting to see her boys race at tracks all across the country. Music filled her house, and you can bet there were plenty of celebrations over the years when those roaring race engines found victory lane. And like so many Southern women, she showed love through cooking, making sure everyone who came through her door left with a full belly and a smile.
The tragedy of losing her son, Casey, shortly before her passing adds another layer of heartbreak to this story. No parent should have to bury a child, but Sheila carried on with the strength that defines the mountain people of North Georgia. She kept loving, kept supporting, kept being the anchor her family needed.
The Elliott Racing Legacy Lives On Through Her Influence
When you watch Chase Elliott wheel that No. 9 car around the track, you’re seeing more than just natural talent and good equipment. You’re seeing the values that Sheila instilled in her family. The humility in victory, the determination in defeat, the respect for fans and competitors alike, all start at home with the kind of person who raised you.
Ernie Elliott’s engines powered Bill Elliott to 44 Cup Series wins and the 1988 championship. Now Chase carries on that tradition with his own championship and devoted fanbase. But championships fade, trophies gather dust, and record books get rewritten. What lasts is the character you build in your family, and that’s where Sheila Elliott’s true victory lies.
Her surviving family includes husband Ernie, children Julie and Matthew Hamby of Wilson, Wyoming, and Nicki Elliott and Brad Davis of Dawsonville. Her sister Linda G. Townley remains in Dawsonville, along with grandchildren Chris and Brianna Hamby, Emma Hamby, Devin Knight, Elizabeth Knight, and Sarah Knight. Each one carries a piece of her legacy forward.
Honoring Sheila Elliott’s Memory
The graveside service will be held on Friday, October 10, 2025, at 11 o’clock at Sawnee View Gardens. Family will receive friends on Thursday from 3 until 8 at the funeral home, giving the racing community a chance to pay their respects to someone who meant so much to so many.
In a gesture that perfectly captures what the Elliott family is about, they’ve asked that, instead of flowers, donations be made to the Chase Elliott Foundation. Even in grief, they’re thinking about how to help others. That’s the kind of people Sheila Elliott raised, and it’s the kind of legacy that makes NASCAR more than just a sport.
Final Thoughts
 Losing someone like Sheila Elliott reminds us that behind every driver we cheer for, every team we support, there are real families with real hearts that can break. The garage will miss her presence, fans will miss knowing she was there supporting her family, and racing will be a little less bright without her smile. Rest in peace, Mrs. Elliott. Thank you for everything you gave to this sport, and for raising the champions who continue to make us proud to be NASCAR fans.
