Alabama Journal from Montgomery, Alabama • 33

i Wednesday, August 2, 1978 ALABAMA JOURNAL, Montgomery. Ala. Gu thrie Ch ases Flag. Dollar By NANCY WILSTACH Newi Editor TALLADEGA -When Janet Guthrie climbs into her Buick for the Talladega 500 this Sunday, she, as all the other drivers, will be chasing that checkered flag. But Guthrie will be chasing the Almighty Dollar, too.

Despite her ninth place finish this year at Indy, the lone woman on the NASCAR circuit finds sponsorship hard to come by. She tries to cover any bitterness when discussing her circumstances, but it doesn't take a psychology degree to see through the veneer of practicality to the deeper feeling that a ninth place finish at Indy would have given a man many more open doors and open pocketbooks. Her Kelly Girl sponsorship runs out Aug. 20 with just one more race left in the old checkbook after Talledega. Guthrie hosted a press conference Tuesday at the speedway, fielding questions about cars, racing, women drivers and romance with aplomb.

Her voice steady and she clenched her hands only slightly when, in reply to a question about the future of women in racing. "Do you see, say 20 years from now, a field of 25 percent women?" a sportswriter asked. "That, I think, would be a little high. Relatively few women are in a position to support themselves for 13 years while putting all their earnings into racing, as I did. They are helping pay for the summer house er putting their kids in private schools, and they don't have that amount of discretionary income.

Even so, here I am looking at the prospect of not racing for the same old financial reasons." To the novice, or the naive, it would seem that Guthrie's credentials as a driver are rather well-established: Her Indy finish (the only woman ever to qualify, let alone finish), her 189 miles per hour women's stock car record, her third place in 1977 for Rookie of the Year, a year she ended with four top-10 finishes and a 23rd ranking in final point standings. As for exposure for the sponsor's product, again the uninitiated would assume sponsors would be flocking to the Guthrie concession. Because she is an oddity on the circuit, she probably gets more television film exposure than any racing driver since Charlton Heston in "Ben Hur." "Is it just because you're a woman?" she was asked. "Well, of course, they would never tell me that." The 40-year-old driver is nonchalant about that women's stock car racing record, and carefully points out she doesn't consider it her most significant achievement by a long sr-t, despite the fact that promoters seem to love to play it up. She exceeded by 17 m.p.h.

the record deliberately established by Paula Murphy in 1974. "It meant much more last year to qualify ninth (at Talladega) and to out-qualify Richard Petty," Guthrie said. And that ninth at Indy meant a lot, too, and she did it literally single-handed. Guthrie described the circumstances that led her to run one of the nation's hottest auto racing competitions with a broken wrist. She said the wrist was broken the Friday before the Memorial weekend classic when she was lured into a celebrity tennis match as a doubles partner for a male driver whom, she said, claimed to be as bad a tennis player as she was.

Guthrie laughed as she said the broken wrist taught her to swear off tennis. Said the racer and commercial rated pilot: "Tennis is a dangerous game." That broken wrist still is causing trouble. Al Unser is raising a stink about her staying in the race knowing she had a bum arm, claiming she endangered the other drivers. In a very untypical fashion, one of the men sportswriters muttered: "If it had been a man racing with a broken wrist, they would all be making a big macho thing of it. He's just hollering because it was a woman." When one of the men asked: "Is there a man in Janet Guthrie's life?" she just smiled, said "Yes" and added, "but we won't talk about that." 1 1 IkuhI Photo Br lUchnd HirniiawU Cuihrie Myes Talladega Greene Homer Keys Trips Nicklaus Back On Top winner of former Rebel lefthander Sheldon Bumside, 9-5.

Bruce Kimm also homered. Wichita's Dave Geisel beat Evansville in the nightcap 1-0, hurling a one-hitter. Dave Stegman got the only hit. WICHITA, Kan. Al Greene, just promoted to triple A Evansville from Montgomery, belted a two-run homer in the fifth inning here Tuesday to account for the winning runs in a 5-4 American Association triumph over Wichita.

Greene's 22nd homer of the season made a (tart rmvfiTTnuE of impending success this time? "No, I'm not superstitious," said Miller. "Maybe Oakmont just has an allergy for necks." Another young player here welcomed a little supeerstitious support. That was Lanny Wadkins, the defending PGA champion. Last year, Wadkins missed the cut in a tournament that preceeded the PGA. He missed the cut last week at the Hartford Open.

"Maybe," he suggested, "the same thing could happen again." Maybe, but Wadkins has yet to win a tournament this year and he's missed the cut eight times in 20 events. OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) Jack Nicklaus is back on top, and two fallen stars may have omens going. for them in this week's PGA pionship the golfing prize that may forever elude Arnold Palmer. Play starts Thursday at the Oak-mont Country Club, where Nicklaus was a chubby 22-year-old when he won his first pro title by edging Palmer in the 1963 U.S.

Open. Recently, Nicklaus won the British Open with 72 holes he called "the best major championship I've ever played." He hadn't won a major tournament in nearly three years, but that raised his career total to 17: three British Opens, five Masters, four PGAs, three U.S. Opens and two U.S. Amateurs. "If I continue to work at it, I'll win several more," Nicklaus predicted.

But there may not be any more for Johnny Miller, who won the 1973 U.S. Open here with a record final-round 63. Golf's top money-winner in 1974 with $353,021, Miller ranks 102nd among the pros this year with winnings of $16,090. After a practice round this week, he reported soreness in his neck in the same spot where he developed pain before taking the 1973 U.S. Open.

Is Miller counting on that as a sign Jackson A Yankee For 1978 B78-13 blackwall plus $1.72 F.E.T. per tire Alexander Takes Kronk By The Associated Press Defending champion John Alexander of Australia has posted an easy 64, 6-1 victory over countryman Paul Kronk in the first round of a $175,000 Grand Prix tennis tournament at North Conway, N.H. Martin, the Yankees manager for the past 2Vi seasons, resigned under pressure in Kansas City last. He was rehired Saturday to manage the Yankees in 1980. "Reggie has been swinging the bat as well as he ever has and we'd be foolish to get rid of him," said Rosen.

"Some players respond well under pressure and Reggie is one of them." Rosen also denied the report published Saturday that the Yankees would send Jackson to California for pitcher Chris Knapp. "We at no time tried to get Chris Knapp, especially for Reggie," the team president said. Smooth-Siding Polyester Cord I Here's what you get with Goodyear's popular All-Weather "8 tire: Diagonal ply construction for dependability. Polyester cord body that won't flatspot. Multiple rib tread for grip.

Honest Goodyear quality. Take advantage of this four-tire offer today! Blackwall. SET OF 4 Silt B78-13 79 S1.72 E7B-14 i $104 S2.C3 F73-14 S108 52.04 G78-U S116 S2.19 678-15 $120 52 36 RAIN CHECK If sen cut of your sze issje you a ra i ceck. assunrg future delivery at tie advertised D'ice. ttlhis cEottlhiasycin Unnycm sans ffr inni mis ttMs ffT sunnonniLtsirs ttD CC3Ht3.

Gas-Saver 2 Glass Belts! JmjPi lb. If 1 1 B7813 Meah ill 111 II Radials! ee'S-2: fiia zii J2 95 t.T. mm NEW YORK (AP) Controversial outfielder Reggie Jackson will remain with the New York Yankees for the remainder of the season, team President Al Rosen said Tuesday night. "He's definitely staying with the Yankees this season," said Rosen after the slugger had a triple and his 16th home run in New York's 8-1 victory over the Texas Rangers. "He's responded to all the recent pressure marvelously," said Rosen, referring to Jackson's recent five-day suspension and the chorus of boos which greeted him every time he batted following Billy Martin's resignation.

Nashville Best Draw In Minors NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Nashville's new professional baseball entry has hit the top of the minor league attendance charts, and owners think they've got a long-playing operation. The Nashville Sounds were the biggest minor league baseball draw in the United States during the first half of the season, averaging 5,911 a game. "The things which I once considered the ene-Z mies of baseball have suddenly become our friends," Sounds President Larry Schmittou said in a recent interview. "You can't take your family to the movies anymore, football has become too expensive and you have to look out for what your kids are watching on television.

People are saying, 'Let's take the kids to the ball game'," the 38-year-old Vanderbilt baseball coach said. But disenchantment with other entertainment forms is not the entire reason for the popularity of the Sounds, a Cincinnati Reds affiliate that has 2 lingered in the middle of the Class AA Southern League standings this season. I Nashville hadn't had a professional baseball 1 team in 15 years until this year. Schmittou and 14 partners, including country entertainer Conway Twitty, banded together last I year to form the team. I Minor league officials say Schmittou's sales: I manship has had a lot to do with the high turnout! Fans are peppered every half inning with give- aways.

They are asked to check their programs nine times a game for a lucky number that could win prizes ranging from cases of beer to used cars to a trip to Hawaii. On Sundays, customers with a church bulletin can get in for half price and cigarette and whiskey ads are banned from the team program. Schmittou said he has tried to sell his team by imitating University of Tennessee athletic promoters who 25 years ago created the concept of Tennessee as "Big Orange Country." "We try to get our logo, a man swinging a guitar, on as many things as possible and spread it throughout Middle Tennessee, southern Kentucky and northern Alabama," he said. As of June 30, the Sounds had 165,511 attendance for 28 dates, an average of nearly 5,911 a game. Only one other minor league team team had drawn more fans by June 30, Columbus with 173,872.

But the Class AAA team from Ohio had played seven more dates than Nashville for an average per game of 4,967. Schmittou said the novelty of a professional baseball team is one reason for the big crowds, but he thinks interest can be sustained in the team. "We are trying to do everything we can fbr the fan. Once our stadium is complete, I think we'll be one of the most stable franchises in the country." Polyglas or Folvglas Radials- Make this tire your choice for gas-saving radial construction, donbli' liberalass belts lur strength, true radial handling and perior-' mance. Stop in VjS I I I Plus fxX KHitewall OUR F.E.T.

Wp! Size PRICE Wiy nor tit" iff DF76-IS" $15.00 ts--iJ" jie.oo JtL FR7S-W H9.00 Jsi EZjZj cn-W J52.0O 52 65 ySSr J50.oo riF Gn-25" 153.00 52 liWh H--25- 156 00 J2 31 jl'i I 159.00 1 S2 22 Cushion Belt Polyglas Get the strength ol two tread-firming belts of fiberglass cord for good wear, good traction, dependability. Polyester cord body soaks up shock, delivers a smooth Tire up now! Whitehall OUR F.E.T, Size PRICE Vt-lt "S36.M H-U S37.CO S2 G'8-it 139.00 II IT8-U K70 C-M5 140.00 55 W2.00 t2 H8-15 I H8.00 li.5 We have reduced prices on traditional clothing you'll enjoy wearing for years to come. All of our seasonal merchandise (suits, sport coats, trousers, sport shirts, plus a large group of all cotton long sleeve dress shirts, has been significantly reduced. Engine Tune-lp 1.1c 51 Front-End Alignment and 4 Tire Rotation $88 Parts eitra if reauireo Exc'udes front wheel ante $1588 J34.M-4-CJ1. rn.t.iw.oiii....

S4S.1S S-cyl. 'essfcrt'ectromc ig-ition Electronic engine, starting and charging system analysis Install new points, spark plugs, condenser and rotor Set dwell and engine timing Adiust carburetor for fuel economy So.evtra charge for air conditioned cars Includes Volksnagen. Toyota. Datsun and light trucks. Protect tires and improve vehicle performance Inspect and rotate 4 tires, check suspension and steering system Set camber, caster and toe-in to manufacturers Most U.S.

made soma import ears Up to 3 qts. major brand oil Helps protect moving parts insures smooth quiet performance Complete chassis lubrication and oil change Check fluid levels Includes light trucks Call for an appointment Just Say 'Charge It' L'se any of these 7 other ways to buy: Our Own -Customer Credit Plan Master Charge BankAmericard American Express Card Carte Blanche Diners Club Cash Goodear Rnolving Charge Account See Your Independent Dealer For His Price and Credit Terms. Prices As Shown At Goodyear Service Stores In All Communities Served By This Newspaper. i 1 1 1A i I ilM Starts today. We will be open tonight until 1 1:00 p.m, for this event.

DOWNTOWN I EASTBR00K McCEHEE ROAD PRATTVILLE 301 Bibb Strati 418 Coliseum Blvd. 3521 McGeheo Rood Prattville Sq. Shop. Or. I Harold Young Ray Griffin, Store Mgr.

D.E. Powell, Store Mgr. Roy Lynn, Store Mgr. 3 262-8821 272-4764 281-2491 365-8832 Goodyear Strvict Store Goodyear Service Start Goodyear Service Star geadyear Service Store Goody-ar Service Stort I 57 Court Sq. 3709 Pepperell Pkway, 1 106 Dodevilla Rd.

203 South Union St. 21 1 Cedar St. I Troy Alabama Opelika. Alabama Ale City. Alabama Oiork, Alabama Greenville.

Alabama I 566-0450 745-7601 234-5005 774-9388 382-2661 I GOODYEAR TIKES AT COMPETITIVE PRICES ARE AVAILABLE AT CONTRACTORS TIRE SERVICE, AIR BASE BLVD. PHONE 265-4597 1717 Carter Hill Road.