September

one goal in mind
part 2

Who would imagine that CJ Motorsports is at the top of the Mid-Am class at Illiana Speedway? In the off season Josh and the rest of the team worked on a Mid-Am car owned by Carl Kolbe for the 2004 season. If you asked anyone on the team about winning a championship, all of them had their doubts about it. When the 1st day of practice came, the car rolled out of the trailer, and on the track to post some of the best lap times that they had ever seen. After practice someone said, "You have the car to beat." It made the team more comfortable about the 2004 season, but the team had to wait for opening night to really see what the car would do with competition on the track under race conditions. In the beginning of the season the team worked together and tried different things to make the car run smoothly around the track. If something did not work they made other changes to make it right. Week after week Josh and the team were consistent race after race, and most of all stayed out of someone else's accident. Josh was very lucky in some races, but messed up in one to make him go to the back on a restart, but was able to move through the field to have a decent finish. To all the drivers that run against each other its a rivalry, but when it comes down to a fellow driver getting seriously hurt that rivalry goes and all driver come together and care about that driver at that point of time. It took till the last night of the season to clinch the 2004 championship for CJ Motorsports at Illiana Speedway, and all season this was the ONE GOAL IN MIND.
by Dave lambe

"A night to remember," that's what Josh was saying at the end of the night. The first race of the night was the completion of the Sept. 4 Mid-American feature, which was stopped after seven laps when competitor Mike Marden was injured in a serious crash. Before the race was restarted, Marden spoke to the crowd via a telephone hookup from his home, and said that he was planning on returning to the driver's seat in time for the 2005 season. Marden, who is expected to make a full recovery, also gave the command to restart the race. "When he gave us the 'Gentlemen, start your engines,' it sent chills up my spine," Josh Nelms said. "It was cool to hear his voice and everything, and it's great to hear that he's doing okay." Nelms, meanwhile, did more than okay himself, winning both the makeup feature and the regularly-scheduled 40-lap season finale. "Aw we're thrilled," said Nelms, who also clinched the division title. "Some guys would be thrilled to win two features in a season, and we did it one night. We're ecstatic. "This goes out to Mike Marden and his family, and all the U.S. troops that support us on this day, 9-11. This has got to be the most memorable racing night I'll ever have." Nelms beat out Bill Neering in the makeup feature by about six car-lengths. Third place went to Jack Kalwasinski, while Dave Gentile Jr., and Jeff Cannon followed. In the 40-lapper, Nelms chased down and passed Kalwasinski via the high groove on lap nine, and never looked back. Cannon established himself as the runnerup on lap 24 and stayed there, while Shaun Wiltjer had his best run of the season to edge out Keith Sterkowitz for third.

sept 11 - Quick results
(this was the make up feature
from 9/04/04)

summary
started
finished

feature 4th 1st

sept 11 - Quick results

qualified

4th

20.962

summary	started	finished
heat	7th	2nd
feature	7th	1st

sept 4 - Quick results

qualified

5th

21.210

summary	started	finished
heat	6th	2nd
feature	4th	?

(the feature) due to a bad 1 car crash involving mike marden #97 on lap 7 the race was red flagged. josh was in 1st at the time of the crash. at the time of this update Mike marden has a broken shoulder, arm and a possible Broken ankle. everyone here at cj motorsports are relieved that mike is doing ok and wishes him a speedy recovery. the feature will restart on sat (9/11) with josh restarting in the lead on lap 7. then the regular night of racing will follow.