Powell began his RJR career as a public relations representative for the Vantage and Nabisco golf programs. In 1991, he moved to the NHRA Winston (now POWERade) Drag Racing program and in 1994 became RJR's manager of media relations for the NASCAR Winston Cup (now Nextel Cup) Series.

Chris is a graduate of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, where he majored in journalism. Chris began his professional career as a sports writer in North Carolina.

A native of Ahoskie, N.C., Chris and his wife Missy have five children.