The Anniston Star from Anniston, Alabama • Page 11

rinnn TP9 DTlS WU6 li ZjI for George Smith Ji ZL Star Senior Editor III Geritol drift is getting old Drought ends for Bobby on his home track I Hives', V'tVf I I if II I I If I I JT TALLADEGA Jack Nicklaus Willie Shoemaker Bobby Allison There's a Geritol drift in sport of late in case you haven't noticed. Nicklaus, at 46, wins the Masters. Shoemaker, 54, boots home a Kentucky Derby winner. And Sunday, here at Alabama International Motor Speedway, Allison, 48, won his first Winston Cup stock car race in 56 starts over a span of two seasons. Somewhere out there, you can almost hear Jackie Gleason's "HOW SW-E-E-T IT IS! one more time.

"It feels R-E-E-E-A-L good," was heard from Allison who is now three years into grandfatherhood. The fact it took a sour transmission in Bill Elliott's Thunderbird just 14 laps from the finish to turn the 1986 Winston 500 into anything remotely resembling a race, did nothing to dull Allison's afternoon in the spotlight. "I AM HAPPY I'm just thrilled I don't know what to say That is a great feeling," were the short, tumbling words from the oldest man to ever win a Winston Cup race (Richard Petty was 47 when he won the Firecracker 400 in 1984). "I may be over the hill, but I enjoy what I do," added Allison. That came from the Huetytown driver just seconds after pulling, into victory lane.

Later, Allison, who hadn't won a race since the 1984 World 600 in Charlotte, acknowledged he had heard the "over the hill" "Yeah, I've been getting some heat about that," he said, "because we've been trying to break a losing streak for quite a while." "Flashing about his jillionth smile since the checkered flag, Allison added I can't think of a better place to break it than here. About a 175,000 screaming Alabamians are out there enjoying it, too." Allison's euphoria was getting a little out of hand Alabama State Troopers had estimated the crowd at a mere 130,000 and there was a suspicion a few were not Alabamians. AND, YES, ALLISON was asked about doubts he had of winning again. That one was easy. "I've always wondered if I'd ever win another race," said Allison.

"I came to Alabama (from Miami) the first time when I was 21 years old. I won 19 straight races short tracks but when I lost that 20th I wondered if I'd ever win again. I think any time I leave a racetrack without winning I worry about that." Someone, a day or two from now, will sit down and find a number for this Allison comeback. A man with a reputation of being opinionated and not easily pleased, Allison's dazzling career and it is a dazzling one with 82 Winston Cup wins carries one story line of changing teams frequently. IN FACT, SUNDAY'S victory was Allison's first for the Stavola Brothers Racing Team, a team he joined during the off-season after quitting the Digard team last July.

It is not the first long losing streak a change of teams has snapped for Allison. There was another one, even longer, during the 1976-77 seasons. It lasted 67 dreary races and came to an end in the 1978 Daytona 500. It was a race Allison didn't even want to run. "I had just gone with Bud (Moore)," said Allison.

"We broke an engine in qualifying. Then I wrecked in one of the 125-milers. I said 'There's just no end to this. Sunday morning, I didn't even want to start the race." The victory lane Allison parked in late Sunday afternoon is a new one. But it was not strange to Allison's Buick.

Last week, minutes after construction crews had I -v tirJLiS. If By CHUCK WILLIAMS Star Sports Writer TALLADEGA Call it what you want. The public relations department at Alabama International Motor Speedway will undoubtedly exclaim it a "typical Talladega finish." Race fans across the state will call it the biggest victory in some time for the "Alabama Gang." But the man who counted, Bobby Allison, called it a "reaaaaal good feeling." Allison had the right to feel good about his last-lap victory in Sunday's Winston 500 at AIMS over Dale Earnhardt, Buddy Baker and eight other drivers that clung to the lead lap. It took determination and years of tocked-away knowledge to pull it off. Allison's vast knowledge of "his home track" came into play on the final 10 laps.

The 48-year-old NASCAR veteran out-powered and out-smarted a host of drivers including Earnhardt, Baker, teammate Bobby Hillin, and Phil Parsons to move to the front of the field with six laps to go. Allison then held off a charging Earnhart, who tried to pass in the final two turns and bully his way to the checkered flag. "Meet me in the parking lot and I'll show you what I did," Allison quipped when asked how he fended off Earnhardt. "I gave him three lanes and took one for myself. I thought I could beat him back to the line when we went into the turns (three and four).

Dale was far enough back that I didn't think he could catch me. "If he was going to slide trying to get around me, I was going to make sure I gave him enough room that he wasn't going to take me with him." Allison, who ended a 55-race losing streak, was confident he could win because of the way his Buick LeSabre was handling. "My car had been loose a little in (turn) four, but it was perfect in the other turns," he said. "I knew when we went into the third turn my car would stick to the track. I had a cushion (over Earnhardt) and I was able to pick up some things during the race and use that knowledge to my advantage on the final lap." COMING OUT OF the third turn, Earnhardt had nosed his Chevrolet low on the track ahead of Allison, but when the two cars roared out of the fourthnd final turn and headed into the tri-oval, Allison was ahead to stay.

Allison might not have been around to enjoy the spoils of his first win since the '84 World 600 in Charlotte if he had not had the determination to wait this thing out. What Allison was waiting for was something to happen to front-running Bill Elliott's Ford Thunder-bird, which dominated the first 173 laps of the 188-lap event. During that stretch, Allison had the secbnd-best car on the track. The best car, which led 117 of those laps and held as much as an eight-second lead on the field, was being pushed to the limit by pole-sitter Elliott, who had qualified in excess of 212 miles per hour. On lap 174, Allison's long, hot wait paid dividends.

Elliott pushed his Ford Thunderbird over the limit when his transmission erupted on the back stretch, bringing out a caution flag because of the oil that was left in his car's wake. If Elliott hadn't broken, could Allison have beaten him? "Only if he let me," said Allison with a dubious smile that said he was glad he didn't have to find out the answer to that question. But Allison felt he played an important role in "Elliott's downfall. "I have always felt that the guy who doesn't have to push his car the hardest has the biggest advantage," he said. "The harder he has to push that engine, the bigger chance of something failing." IT WAS ALLISON who made Elliott push away.

"Twice during the race, Bill built up big leads and I was able to whittle them down both times," Allison said. "He had more power and would jump out front and we would chase him down. "Though his car had the most power, I thought my car handled better all day." Elliott was philosophical about what happened in his quest for victory N), 1 this season." "Hey, the car was running good," he said, "But when it ain't your day, it ain't your day. And today wasn't my day." After a quick stop for fuel that dropped him to fifth but with Elliott packed away, all Allison had to do was Star Photo by Stovt Crois Allison's victory made a big splash with the home folks, not to mention himself Hey, the car was running good. But when it ain't your day, it ain't your day.

And today wasn't my day. Bill Elliott Winston 500 The Top Twenty I. 1 Bobby Allison (Buick) $77,905 2. Dale Earnhardt (Chevrolet) $53,900 3. Buddy Baker (Oldsmobile) $27,600 4.

Bobby Hillin Jr. (Buick) $21,470 5. Phil Parsons (Oldsmobile) $15,525 6. Morgan Shepherd (Buick) $11,750 7. Richard Petty (Pontiac) $14,425 8.

Rick Wilson (Ojdsmobile) $10,500 9. Ron Bouchard (Pontiac) $7,900 10. Greg Sacks (PontiacL $9,350 II. Dave Marcis (Pontiac) $10,455 12. Tim Richmond (Chevrolet) $9,835 13.

Rusty Wallace (Pontiac) $12,440 14. Ronnie Thomas (Chevrolet) $8,875 15. Doug Heveron (Pontiac) $4,940 16. Jimmy Means (Pontiac) $8,115 17. Joe Ruttman (Buick) $7,635 18.

Pancho Carter (Chevrolet) $7,225 19. Delma Cowart (Chevrolet) $3,820 20. Benny parsons (Oldsmobile) $3,735 see just how a race car would fit the track's new stage. find a way on the final 10 laps. No problem well, at leastit didn't look like a problem.

He made his moves swiftly and with purpose. Allison charged past Richard Petty on the 181st lap to move into fourth. On the 182nd lap, Earnhardt and Hillin were the next victims and suddenly Allison was one spot and seven laps from victory. The next time around, Bubby Baker's Oldsmobile provided little resistance as-Allison, with Earnhardt riding his bumper, zoomed by. Allison took $77,905 back to Hueytown for his efforts this week.

Finishing behind Earnhardt and Baker were Hillin in fourth, Parsons fifth, Morgan Shepherd sixth, Richard Petty seventh, Rick Wilson eighth, Ron Bouchard ninth, Greg Sacks tenth and Dave Marcus eleventh. The top 11 cars were all on the lead lap. THERE WAS ONE major accident in the race that (Please see Allison on Page 5B) Yes, you guessed it. Allison's No. 22 was picked.

Perhaps an omen? "I don't know," said Allisun, smiling again. "Whatever it was, I'll take it." And any others he can get for who knows how long. "Our family is blessed with good health," said Allison, ticking off several of advancing years. "We'll just ride it out and see what happens." Certainly, the man has not lost his desire and competitive fire. Asked about that, there was humor.

"You'll never know that until you're 48-years-old and try to get out of bed in the morning. INSIDE I-a Tlr A picture perfect day Page 4B The pace car was picked off Page 5B.