MARINE CORPS RECRUITING COMMAND, Quantico, Va. -- Team Marines Racing heads west all revved up for the second race of the 2006 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series, after escaping the Hershey’s Kissables 300 at the Daytona International Speedway last week with minor scrapes and bruises.
Ashton Lewis Jr., driver of the #25 Team Marines Ford Fusion, scored a spectacular 12th place finish as he came across the finish line sideways through the grass along the speedways front stretch. The team was all but assured a top-10 spot until they were caught in the middle of a multi-car crash a few hundred yards from the checkered flag.
“Other than the last couple hundred yards last week, we had a really good race,” said Lewis. “We’re taking that 12th place finish into the California Speedway with our focus on running up front and grabbing a top-ten finish.”
This is the sixth season the Marine Corps and Team Rensi Motorsports have partnered to field the #25 car in the NASCAR Busch series. The Marine Corps uses the partnership to spread its message of opportunity to a large and growing fan base across the nation.
Each year, the Marine Corps Recruiting Command is tasked with sending approximately 40,000 young men and women to recruit training. To assist Marine recruiters in accomplishing this mission, it is imperative that the Corps’ message is seen and heard in every community.
“Our partnership with Team Rensi Motorsports generates a lot of awareness for the Marine Corps and supports the efforts of our recruiters,” said Maj. Tim Fitzpatrick, advertising officer, Marine Corps Recruiting Command. “In addition to being seen every week as the primary advertiser on the race car, we also receive show car appearances at local recruiting events and have access to Ashton for driver publicity appearances.”
The team is primed for a successful season and everyone, especially Lewis Jr., is looking for success both on and off the track.
“It is an honor to represent all the Marines throughout the world,” said the Chesapeake, Va., native who is starting his second season behind the wheel of the Team Marines Ford. “I want to thank all the Marines for what they do in supporting our nation, and I want to do my part by helping them accomplish their recruiting goals -- but most of all would like to reward them with a victory before the end of this season.”