When It Comes to This Family’s Business, You’re on Your Own

Hut Stricklin lives in Calera, Ala., and drives a Winston Cup stock car for the legendary Bobby Allison, who lives down the road a piece in Hueytown, Ala. One Sunday at Michigan International Raceway, Stricklin was closing in on Davey Allison, Bobby’s son who drives for a different team.

“Go on around, pass him,” Bobby told his driver over the radio. To which Stricklin replied, “He’s my ride home. I flew up here with him.”

Bobby then said: “I’ll guarantee you’ll get home tonight, go around him.”

Hut tried, but couldn’t do it. Davey won, Hut was second--his highest finish ever--and all the Allisons celebrated.

Hut, you see, wanted to get home for his 30th birthday party the next day, given by his wife, the former Pam Allison, whose father is Donnie Allison, Bobby’s brother, Davey’s uncle and Hut’s father-in-law.

Shape up: The Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport had this to say after American cyclist Greg LeMond faltered during a mountain stage of the Tour of Italy: “LeMond fell apart like a piece of antique furniture that had been eaten by worms.”

Trivia time: Two players on the 1947 Pasadena High baseball team later became major league managers. Who were they?

Likes kids: Paul Woods of the Richmond News Leader was there the day Charles Barkley of the Philadelphia 76ers won $125 for hitting his ball closest to the pin in a charity golf tournament.

“Kids are great,” Barkley said to Woods. “That’s one of the best things about our business, all the kids you get to meet. It’s a shame they have to grow up to be regular people and come to the games and call you names.”

On his way back to his seat after accepting his prize money, Barkley shook hands with the first kid he saw--and kept on walking. The young man, Matt Cullather, 14, was amazed when he looked down and saw he was holding $125.

Wrong position: Chicago Cub outfielder Doug Dascenzo has been used as a mop-up pitcher several times this season when the Cubs were losing badly. However, he has the best record of any Cub reliever: No runs in four innings over three games.

Looking back: On this day in 1975, Ruffian, the undefeated filly, raced Foolish Pleasure, the Kentucky Derby winner, in a match race at Belmont Park. Ruffian, on the lead, sustained a severe leg injury and was pulled up by jockey Jacinto Vasquez. Ruffian was destroyed the next day.

Fish tale: If you’re into world fishing records, the name DuVal is well represented. Virginia’s Bill and Gene DuVal, husband and wife, have a dozen or more records, from red drum to sea bass to jack crevalle.

Now comes son John DuVal, who landed a record 82-pound bluefin tuna on 12-pound test line while casting a plug on spinning tackle off Oregon Inlet, N.C.

“What fun to have the second generation of DuVals fishing for records on light tackle,” said mom Gene, who holds the women’s record for bluefin tuna with a 42-pounder she landed on 8-pound line in 1976.

Trivia answer: Third baseman Dick Williams managed 20 years with Boston, Oakland, the Angels, Seattle and San Diego. Shortstop Bobby Lillis managed four years with Houston.

Quotebook: Buffalo’s Bob Rich, after his city was passed over when Miami and Denver were awarded National League expansion franchises: “It’s just unfortunate that baseball has chosen television markets over baseball towns.”