FONTANA, CALIF. -- Team Marines NASCAR driver, Bobby Hamilton Jr., finished 18th overall in the 1-800-PITSHOP.COM 300 at California Speedway Saturday.

The Commander of Marine Corps Air Bases Western Area, Brig. Gen. Jon A. Gallinetti, was a special guest of the team for the race. All eyes were on the aviator as he took his spot behind the Team Marines number 25 Ford Taurus. As the national anthem played television cameras took note of the general's sharp Marine Corps salute. Gen. Gallinetti donned a team headset and took a seat on pit row to enjoy the race.

The speedway rumbled as each driver started his engine. Hamilton started his Ford Taurus in the 13th spot.

Early on, an accident on lap three sent the first caution flag of the day. Once racing resumed on lap nine, Hamilton was determined to put his car in the top ten. By lap 40, 80 miles into the race, Hamilton had moved into seventh position. Two laps later, he followed the race leaders into pit road for service. The Team Marines crew attacked his red racecar, quickly switching four tires, making an air pressure adjustment and filling it full of fuel.

Due to the quickness of the Team Marines crew, Hamilton remained in seventh position after the stop.

Hamilton continued to whittle away the leader's margin, pushing his car into the fourth spot just before another caution came out on lap 58. Hamilton radioed to his crew chief, Fred Wanke, that his car was tight in the center off in the corner.

Wanke instructed his driver to sacrifice the track position to correct the problem and allow him to make a run for the leader position.

He restarted the race on lap 63 and was busy making up his lost position. He regained the 12th spot when oil on the track caused another caution.

Following the caution, the driver told Wanke through his headset, that the car was still very tight. On the next stop the problem would be corrected, but not before Hamilton would fall back to the 14th position on lap 88. At the 100 lap mark the leaders pulled in again to pit road. Hamilton, took his service on lap 102, receiving again four fresh tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment.

The Marines team resumed their position in spot 26, but quickly regained three spots in four laps.

Another caution came out on lap 116 before many of the leaders hade made their pit stops. Hamilton, having already made a stop, was put a lap down.

The team opted to pit one final time. Fresh tires and fuel were going to be key in finishing as high as possible. Hamilton re-entered the race on lap 122 in 23rd place. He made up five spots before the checkered flag fell on lap 150, finishing 18th overall.

Team Rensi Motorsports news releases and staff reports were used in this story.