Fred Hanks Jr. started from second and went on to win the Thunder Roadster Championship.

You could say that Ralph Bush, who finished third in Thunder Roadster at the Western States Championships presented by Toyo Tires, is a determined man. At 80 years old, Bush has been racing since 1957.

“In all the years I’ve been doing this, it’s the first time I’ve gotten to be in the awards ceremony,” Bush said afterward. “Yesterday was better. My car’s awful loose today. I spun it in 6 and I spun it in 4, but I’m here and the car’s in one piece. I’m happy. If I were any happier I’d be twins.”

Douglas Marshall, who started from pole, wound up having a great race with Fred Hanks Jr., who went on to win.

Douglas Marshall started from pole, but finished second in Thunder Roadster.
Douglas Marshall started from pole, but finished second in Thunder Roadster.

“We’ve been battling all weekend with Tom Boyd and Fred Hanks Jr.” Marshall said. “Yesterday we all finished within a quarter second of each other so we were running tight all weekend. Today, I just couldn’t pull it off, got second.”

Fred Hanks Jr. started just behind Marshall and relished the duel they had.

80-year-old Ralph Bush took third in Thunder Roadster.
80-year-old Ralph Bush took third in Thunder Roadster.

“Doug was pretty close” he said. “We ran well together. These guys are fun. Tom broke halfway through so then it was just me and Doug. It was close. I thought he was going to pass me at the end, but he didn’t. We had fun. It was all good.”

Image courtesy of headonphotos.net

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