This is a photo Doug Whelan (310) will be proud to show friends and family for years to come. The rider from Marietta, Ga., was racing in his home AMA Superbike race and found himself in the right place at the right time when this photo was taken. Whelan was in front of Kevin Schwantz (34) and Wayne Rainey (behind Schwantz) as Schwantz and Rainey battled for the lead late in the 1987 Road Atlanta Superbike race. You won’t blame Doug if he fails to mention that Schwantz and Rainey were moving up to lap him. From Whelan’s point of view it’s a photo of him “ahead” of two future world champions.
Doug Whelan was in front of Kevin Schwantz (34) and Wayne Rainey (behind Schwantz) as Schwantz and Rainey battled for the lead late in the Road Atlanta Superbike race. (Larry Lawrence photo)
Rider Files 
I was at this race, really made me a Schwantz fan. Kevin would lead through the technical stuff and Wayne would power by on the uphill straight coming out of Canada Corners. Lap after lap it would repeat, until Kevin gapped him by enough that Wayne couldn’t catch him on the straight. Then it was over! Thanks for putting this one up!
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