Early World Crown 300 entries have national flavor

JEFFERSON, GA - From Vermont to Arizona, entries from around the country have been coming in for the Saturday, August 9 World Crown 300 Super Late Model Stock Car event at Gresham Motorsports Park in Jefferson, GA.<br /> <br /> Among the early entries received for the 'King of The Short Tracks' title is Brian Hoar from Williston, Vermont - a Northeast racing legend thanks in large part his eight American Canadian Tour championships.<br /> <br /> "I sat down with my team owner and we decided it would be a lot of fun to come down and race some big events like the World Crown 300," said Hoar. "I've been racing a long time - I'm 42 now - and I don't know how long I'll be racing or how long I'm going to be competitive at this level. I've never seen GMP, but I've talked to some other competitors who have raced there and everyone tells me what a beautiful facility it is. We're pumped to come down there. Racing in the World Crown 300 is kind of a 'bucket list' thing for me. It's going to be great to race against some of the best short-track racers."<br /> <br /> Hoar's No. 37 Dodge Charger will no doubt be one of the cars to beat in the 300-lap battle on the GMP half-mile oval.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, several other drivers have filed entries for this year's 31st-Annual World Crown 300 including young Landon Cling, a 19-year-old charger from Tempe, AZ who will be making his first-ever GMP appearance in his No. 68 Ford Fusion.<br /> <br /> Other entries for the top prize of $15,000 include GMP veterans Donnie Wilson of Oklahoma City, OK and Steven Nasse from Pinellas Park, FL.<br /> <br /> "Brian Hoar is right - the World Crown 300 is a 'bucket list' race for a lot of top Super Late Model Stock Car drivers," said Gresham Motorsports Park general manager John Close. "That's especially true now that we're televising the World Crown 300 this year. The two-hour, tape-delayed World Crown 300 telecast will be broadcast into more than 107 million homes nationally this year. That makes winning - or running well - in this year's Crown even more important because now drivers can win one of the biggest events in all of short-track Stock Car Racing in front of a great crowd here at GMP - and have everyone around the country see it on television too."<br /> <br /> The 2014 World Crown 300 will officially get underway on Wednesday, August 6 at Noon Eastern Time with the opening of the GMP campground area. Self Contained/Rough Camping is free of charge in GMP designated areas and is not permitted in the Infield Pit or Trackside Parking areas.<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 /> And after the Friday test will be the Hoosier Racing Tires World Crown 300 Qualifying Draw Party. The event will be open to competitors and fans alike with the highlights of the evening being the qualifying draw for the World Crown 300 and a separate drawing for a free set of Hoosier Racing Tires.<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 /> For more information about the World Crown 300 - including a full set of competitor rules and entry blank - please visit the track's website.