Skoal is a U.S. brand of smokeless dipping tobacco manufactured by the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company.
Cup Series History[]
Skoal is best known as the sponsor of the #33 car, with various drivers and owners, from 1981 through 1999.
In 1981, Skoal first sponsored Hal Needham and Burt Reynolds' team, with Stan Barrett and later Harry Gant driving. Both Needham & Reynolds were known from their work on the 1977 film Smokey and the Bandit, and thus the car often featured the Skoal Bandit. Skoal later created a product line in 1983 to match the Bandit marketing.
In 1983, Skoal sponsored a second team, owned by Johnny Hayes and driven by Benny Parsons & his brother, Phil Parsons. Hayes team would shut down at the end of 1984, and Richard & Leo Jackson would pick up the Skoal sponsorship as well as the Parsons brothers as their drivers in 1985.
In 1989, The Jackson Brothers would sign Gant and Skoal from Needham's team, and would swap numbers, with the Jackson's keeping the #33, and Needham picking up the #66.
In 1990, the Jackson Brothers split, with Leo Jackson taking the #33, Skoal Bandit sponsorship and Harry Gant, and Richard Jackson taking the former #55 team (renumbered to #1) and Skoal Classic sponsorship. Terry Labonte would sign with Richard Jackson for 1990, and Rick Mast would become the driver of the #1 in 1991. This arrangement would last until Gant retired in 1994.
In 1995, Robert Pressley was signed to drive for Leo Jackson, and at the conclusion of the 1995, Skoal would leave Richard Jackson's #1 team to focus solely on the #33. With a few races remaining in the 1996 season, Richard Jackson sold his team to his crew chief, Andy Petree. Pressley was released with a few races remaining in the season and Todd Bodine was brought in to fill in.
In 1997, Ken Schrader joined Petree's team, and drove the #33 Chevrolet. Schrader would race the #33 Skoal Chevy for 3 seasons, before Skoal (and Schrader) would leave Petree's team at the conclusion of 1999.
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