He referred to the company's Salem and Winston brands, which were down 2.6 percent and 7.5 percent in volume, respectively.

The company's Camel brand was weak internationally, particularly in Western Europe, Mr. Cohen said, but the company's Winston brand recorded a 25 percent worldwide volume gain.

The wrapping, which is intended to keep cigarettes fresher, has been available on its Winston brand since mid-August.

Carrier is also credited with initiating drag racing's long-term sponsorship association with the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company's Winston brand, which has ended.

R. J. Reynolds plans to change the product packaging for its Winston brand of cigarettes.

Sampey raced a Suzuki from 1996 through 2007, sponsored most notably by R.J. Reynolds' Winston brand and the U.S. Army.

If the company had to pull support from its products, the Winston brand was widely viewed by analysts as a logical choice.

RJR responded by cutting prices on its Camel and Winston brands.

R.J. Reynolds announces its Winston brand of cigarettes will become the title sponsor of NASCAR's premier stock car racing series.

Its name (along with that of the Winston brand) derives from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the city where RJR was founded and headquartered.