Extended tour for Rensi/Marine Corps.

The United States Marine Corps has announced that it is renewing its sponsor partnership with Team Rensi Motorsports and the No. 25 Ford Taurus in the NASCAR Busch Series for the 2003 season.

The United States Marine Corps' main objective of their NASCAR marketing partnership with Team Rensi Motorsports is to establish one-on-one contact with recruiters and young adults between the ages of 17 and 24, which may lead to possible recruitment. Each year, The United States Marine Corps strives to recruit 40,000 young men and women. Currently, there are approximately 172,000 active duty Marines.

"The recruiting environment is very competitive," said Captain Robert Geiger, Marine Corps Recruiting Command. "NACAR is the fastest growing spectator sport in the country, especially among the age group we are targeting. We have found that with a partnership in this sport, we get more 'bang for the buck' than with traditional advertising."

Geiger feels that the Corps' involvement in NASCAR is a perfect fit with its ideals and values.

"There are so many similarities between NASCAR racing and The United States Marine Corps," explained Geiger. "Both include individuals looking for a challenge, working together as a team to reach an established goal, and giving your best every day to succeed in your chosen profession.

The patriotism and All-American spirit of NASCAR fans makes the Marine Corps feel at home," adds Geiger. "We love to engage the young men and women who follow the sport because so many of them have the strength of character that we look for in our recruits. We have a high appreciation for all NASCAR fans, not just the ones waving the No. 25 banner, because they are Americans and that's what the Team Marines racing program is all about."

The 2003 season will mark the Marine Corps' third year of involvement in the NASCAR Busch Series and their second year with Team Rensi Motorsports.

"Team Rensi is a first-class organization," said Geiger. "Owners, Ed and Sam Rensi and Gary Weisbaum, have all had very successful careers and fully understand our goals and marketing objectives. They have put together a unique marketing program with on-track performance complimented by an apparel and show car program that works to achieve all of our goals."

"I think of us as a marketing company using racing to achieve our objectives," said Weisbaum. "What we do before we get to the track is what makes us successful in our marketing programs. We like to think we bring a quality product to the race track, but the fact that we sit with our marketing partners, and help develop, implement and evaluate sales and marketing programs is what sets us apart."

Hamilton, Jr., currently ninth in the NASCAR Busch Series championship standings, has one win, five top five and fourteen top-ten finishes. According to Geiger he is ideal as a representative for the Marine Corps.

"Bobby is a young man with unlimited drive to succeed," said Geiger. "His determination, sportsmanship, and fearless attitude mirrors the kind of aggressiveness and character that we look for and that we successfully shape and sharpen in the making of Marines."

Hamilton, Jr. is excited about the future and is determined to give the Marine Corps' even more success in 2003.

"2002 has already been a great year for this team and myself," said Hamilton, Jr. "It is exciting to know that we will all continue to build on our success and move forward in 2003. It is a huge honour to represent the Marine Corps and I am looking forward to a very successful 2003 season."
"We have had an opportunity to host a wide variety of educators and business leaders on behalf of the Marine Corps these last two years and have seen very positive results," added Rensi. "We look forward to continuing to represent one of America's finest organizations, the United States Marine Corps, in 2003."