Up-and-Coming Georgian Ran Off the Track, but Rallied for the Win
In this week’s Throwback we dial it back 34 years and check in on the Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster race at Daytona International Speedway during Bike Week ’91. In a stunning last-lap upset, Tripp Nobles (31) stole victory from the jaws of defeat in the 1991 Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster final. While National Champion Randy Texter (1) and rival Andy Fenwick (47) played a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, slowing each other down in a battle for the draft, Nobles mounted a miraculous charge from well back.
After an off-track excursion on lap three nearly ended his day, Nobles masterfully worked his way back into contention. As Texter and Fenwick hesitated exiting the final chicane, each refusing to lead the sprint to the flag, Nobles perfectly timed his slingshot. He exploded past the stunned leaders, hitting the draft to snatch an improbable win by .271 seconds. The Phil Flack Racing-backed rider proved that in racing, sometimes the biggest dog is the one who waits to pounce.
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