RALPH SEAGRAVES
(4/21/29 - 9/27/98)
Ralph Seagraves was, without question, the most influential man in Motorsports for the past forty years. Seagraves, a native of Winston-Salem, went to work for RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co. in 1955. He was in charge of the Special Events department, which was later called Winston Sports Marketing. He started Winston's involvement in NASCAR and in 1973 he brought Winston to NHRA and IHRA. Their involvement brought both forms of racing to the fore front for millions of Motorsports fans. By supporting, not only the major tracks, but all of the sanctioned tracks in the US from coast-to-coast, everyone knew what the Winston 'Red' stood for.
Ralph Seagraves not only brought racing to America, he oversaw Winston's involvement in several hundred major events a year.
The legacy of Ralph Seagraves is quite simply that of Motorsports, which wouldn't be what it is today without his vision and leadership.
(Picture above is Ralph with his wife Ardette and to the right is Ralph with Maurice Petty)
