Gresham announces format for 31st World Crown 300

JEFFERSON - Gresham Motorsports Park has announced the format and schedule for the World Crown 300 Super Late Model Stock Car Race.<br /> <br /> The 31st-Annual World Crown 300 will be contested on Saturday, August 9, on the Jefferson, GA half-mile oval. The Super Late Model Stock Car Racing classic will be a 300-lap affair with caution flags counting during the first 290 laps. There will be no competition cautions or half-way breaks and the race will feature live pit stops.<br /> <br /> "It's going to be 300 laps of 'git after it,'" said GMP general manager John Close. "We polled some of our drivers and fans and they all pretty much said the same thing - they wanted a 300-lap race with no breaks. And, they wanted and pit stops - just like the original 1983 World Crown classic won by the legendary Dick Trickle. Frankly, that sounded pretty good to us."<br /> <br /> Thursday, August 7 will see the first on-track action of the 31st-Annual World Crown 300 with an optional test for all Super Late Models, GMP Outlaw Late Models and GMP Pro Trucks from 5-8:30 p.m.<br /> <br /> There will be a second optional test - again from 5-8:30 p.m. - for all 'Crown' entries on Friday, August 8.<br /> <br /> Both the Thursday and Friday test sessions are open for free fan viewing from the Gresham Motorsports Park Trackside Parking area.<br /> <br /> On Friday, fans will also be admitted free to the 2014 World Crown 300 Pole Qualifying Draw Party from 8:30-10:30 p.m. in the GMP Main Grandstand Concession Area.<br /> <br /> The highlight of the party will be the drawing for positions in Saturday's World Crown qualifying session. This lottery-style selection process should provide plenty of excitement, as it will also determine the order in which teams will select their tires for Saturday's 300-lap race.<br /> <br /> The green flag will fall on the Saturday, August 9 World Crown 300 with the opening of the GMP track gates at 8 a.m. Pit gates will open at 9:15 a.m. with World Crown 300 Super Late Model practice hitting the track from 12:15-2:45 p.m. to be followed by practice and qualifying in the Outlaw Late Model and Truck divisions.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Trackside Parking will open at 1 p.m. while the GMP Main Grandstand will open at 4:30 p.m. ET.<br /> <br /> Pole position qualifying for the World Crown 300 will roll off at 5:30 p.m. Fans can meet all the pole winners during an all-division, on-track autograph session before Opening Ceremonies - and the first race of this year's World Crown 300 - rolls off at 7 p.m.<br /> <br /> "We're expecting a big turnout of cars and fans for this year's World Crown 300," said Close. "The race is sanctioned by the Southern Super Series, but the Crown has traditionally drawn entries from all over the country. Why not? It's $15,000 to win, $1,000 to start (32nd). It's also a chance to win a very prestigious race against the best competition. And, it's all going to be seen in a two-hour tape delayed broadcast thanks to GMP's 2014 national television package of events.<br /> <br /> "We're pretty confident those things are going to draw a great field for this year's World Crown 300."