Hot Rods Who is on this Winston drag race sign?

I am looking to list this sign for a friend and do not know who is on the sign. He has had the sign since 1985 so it is at least that old. It was hanging at a famous east coast drag race strip before he received it.
Any idea who it is?

 

The Marlboro Man?

 

Its probably just a male modle from Winstons ad agency...

 

...........................I would agree. Doesn't look like anyone famous or anything.

 

Not a racer...

 

Are you smitten??

 

Thats R.J. Reynolds, Burt Reynolds brother.

 

I just ***umed it was a racer from back then that I did not recognize. Thanks!!!

 

I think they used the same guy for the N.A.S.C.A.R. Winston Cup sign.

 

Do you still have this sign for sale

 

His name is Joe Kool!

 

Yah he hangs with Jim Beam, and John Barleycorn...

 

So you saying he doesnt drink alone? Sorry for hijackin the thread.

 

Hell no, what fun is that, he has also been know to light em up with "Eve" and "Virginia Slims"....okay nuff of the corny stuff wonder what old Carrie Hatchet would think!

 

I believe that's Seymore ****s; the inventor of the hospital gown. They say you find out just how good your medical insurance is, when you find out it covers you almost as well as your hospital gown......Hey, someone else started it, I just jumped in. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

I believe he died from lung cancer.

 

I know it's not but it looks a little like Mario Andretti.

 

I'd be interested in this sign if it's still available

 

Don't know who's on the drag racing poster....but , Darrell Winfield ( the cowboy pictured in the Marlboro ads ) just died Jan 2015...cause was not stated in his obituary..supposedly the " real deal " cowboy...
http://archive.county10.com/2015/1/14/darrell-winfield/

 

Imposter!!!

 

No actually on a Winston ad it would be the Marlboro Man's sister.

 

OK all pretty good answers but how about the dragster?

Pat

 

That is probably one that they sponsored.

Might be this one if anyone knows who ran the Champions Flight cars.

 

Appears Winston cigarettes was the ***le sponsor of the series from 1971 until 2001. Trying to nail a year is not easy as car changes are often minor.

 

That's Gary Scelzi. Don't know that Winston sponsored anybody in the 80's .

 

R J Reynolds' vehicle sponsorship in drag racing started in the 90's with the Smokin Joe's branding (Camel) on the Candies and Hughes funny car and Jim Head's top fuel entry. Whit Bazemore later had the Camel deal and that transitioned to his Winston backing while the dragster deal went to Alan Johnson with Gary Scelzi driving.

Roo