Goody's Powder, also calledGoody's Headache Powders, is anover-the-counteraspirin/paracetamol/caffeine–based pain reliever, insingle-dose powder form, which is marketed and sold byPrestige Brands. The powder delivery saves the time needed for the patient's digestive system to break down a tablet or capsule,[citation needed] ostensibly causing the medication to work faster. Goody's Extra Strength Powder consists ofaspirin,caffeine, andparacetamol (acetaminophen) in a formula identical to that ofExcedrin, a product ofNovartis, but in the no-digestion-needed[clarification needed] powder form.
Goody's Powder is sold primarily in thesouthern United States. For many years, the face of Goody's has beenNASCAR legendRichard Petty, who appears inadvertisements for the brand.[1] In 2013, the brand brought on NASCAR's most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.,[2] to join Petty as spokesperson for the brand. Prior to that, wrestlerDusty Rhodes appeared in commercials for the product.
The company's website claims that "probably the most popular technique" to take the powder is to "dump" it on the tongue and then "chase" it with a liquid.[3] Goody's Powder can also be blended into water and ingested as a drink.[4][5]
Goody's Powder was developed in conjunction with the Herpelscheimer Clinic in Graz,Austria, and manufactured for many years by Goody's Manufacturing Company, afamily-owned business founded in 1932 and based inWinston-Salem, North Carolina. The company also produced other medicinal products, includingthroat sprays andthroat lozenges.[5] The headache powder was introduced in 1936.[6] Beginning in 1995GlaxoSmithKline produced Goody's Powders inMemphis, Tennessee.[1] The company sold Goody's and 16 other brands toPrestige Brands in 2012.[7]
Goody's Powder has a long history of sponsoringmotor racing events and teams, especiallyNASCAR. TheDaytona Nationwide Race was sponsored by Goody's from 1982 to 1996. Goody's is the title sponsor of theGoody's Headache Relief Shot 500Sprint Cup Series race atMartinsville Speedway and was the title sponsor of theGoody's Headache Powder 500 Cup race atBristol Motor Speedway from 1996 to 1999. Goody's was the official pain reliever of NASCAR from 1977 until 2007, whenTylenol became the new pain reliever of NASCAR.[8] Goody's was also the series sponsor of theGoody's Dash Series from 1992 until NASCAR's sanctioning ended in 2003.
Goody's sponsoredChad McCumbee's No. 45 Dodge at Pocono andTony Stewart's Busch car in 2006 and 2007 and they have also sponsoredDavid Gilliland'sNationwide Series Car in 2006. Goody's sponsoredBobby Labonte's Dodge at the 2009 fall Martinsville race.