Tobacco sponsorship has long been a part of NASCAR racing, but now six legendary drivers are speaking out against smoking, the Forsythe News reported March 23.

Richard Petty, David Pearson, Donnie Allison, Buddy Baker, Ned Jarrett, and Benny Parsons were named grand marshals of the recent Nicorette 300 Busch race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway -- part of a racing series that previously was named the Winston Cup (it's now the Nextel Cup). "Ain't that something? With all R.J. Reynolds did for the sport. It just shows you [NASCAR] will do anything for a dollar," said Pearson.

Pearson is a former two-pack-a-say smoker who even lit up in the middle of races. He quit 15 years ago.

Petty said Winston "was the right product for the right time as far as bringing the money in, getting the Cup name and NASCAR out to the general public. In 1971, Nicorette would not have been accepted with the Southern crowds, the racing crowds, because everybody was smoking at the time."

Today, said Baker, "I don't feel we're infringing on anyone. And let's face it, lung cancer is a pretty ugly thing."