Rensi Iwo Jima paint scheme for Rockingham.

On Monday February 9th 1945, US Marines stormed the sands of Iwo Jima in Japan. Little did those men realise that 57 years later their battle would be commemorated in a NASCAR paint scheme.

Team Rensi Motorsports has decided to honour the bravery and spirit of the United States Marines that day with a new paint scheme on the no. 25 Team Marines Ford Taurus.

The team, which has previously run with a Toys for Tots livery, will debut the new look at the 1-866-RBCTERM.com 200 at North Carolina Speedway on February 23, 2002. It will be the first of two appearances for the "Freedom Car" during the 2002 Busch Series season

Historians described the US forces' attack against the Japanese defence as "throwing human flesh against reinforced concrete." In the end, Iwo Jima was won by the fighting spirit of the Marines. The Battle of Iwo Jima, as it became known, was soon famous the world over due to an historic photograph of the Marines raising the US flag atop Mount Suirbachi to signify their victory. The photograph led to a national monument being made to depict the scene.

The 'Freedom Car' will feature several decals to show the true spirit of America, including the American Eagle, the United States Capitol building, the Declaration of Independence, the Liberty Bell, the Statue of Liberty, as well as a prominent display of the Eagle, Globe and Anchor emblem of the United States Marine Corps.

Bobby Hamilton Jr, driver of the No. 25 Team Marines Ford Taurus, feels especially honoured to be able to pay tribute to the US Marine Corps in such a manner. "I am proud to be a part of such a tribute," Hamilton said. "You always hear stories about the battle of Iwo Jima and how many of these men went ashore knowing that they would lose their lives. How could I not feel honoured to be able to pay my respects to those men? The Freedom Car looks awesome and I can't wait to get it on the track at Rockingham and hopefully, take it to victory lane."

Team owner, Ed Rensi, feels it is important to honour the very men and women who help give all American citizens the freedom that is often taken for granted. "I think that in general, we all take the freedoms and liberties that we have as American citizens for granted because we know no other way of life" Rensi said. We tend to forget that the reason we have those freedoms and liberties is the fact that the men and women of our armed forces, and especially our Marines, sacrifice their lives for it, for us. They sacrifice their own lives for millions of people they have never met, never talked to, never heard of. I am happy that we as a team can honour these men and women."

A die-cast replica of the Freedom Car, produced by Mattel in 1/64th and 1/24th scale, will be available by early summer.