Nicorette gum became the first smoking cessation product t… CHARLOTTE - One year after kicking its decades-long cigarette sponsorship habit, NASCAR apparently needs a little help staying smoke-free.

At 6 months, the biochemically validated rate of quitting was 15.7% for those who received e-cigarettes, 14.2% for those who received varenicline, and 8.8% for those who chewed nicotine gum.

Nicorette, the nicotine-dispensing gum that has been sold only under a doctor's supervision for 12 years, was introduced Thursday as an over-the-counter medicine.

Nicotine gum, such as Nicorette (nicotine polacrilex), is a type of medicinal nicotine replacement therapy. It’s a smoking ...