Drivers, Fans Set For Tonight’s World Crown 300 At GMP

The countdown clock at Gresham Motorsports Park is almost at zero, and in just a few hours there will be a new name written in short track racing history.

The 30th annual World Crown 300 is set to roll off later today at the famed Jefferson, Georgia speed plant. Drivers such as Bubba Pollard, Daniel Hemric, T.J. Reaid, Hunter Robbins and Mike Garvey will be looking to add their names to the list of winners, which includes such names as Dick Trickle, Darrell Waltrip, Rich Bickle, Ronnie Sanders, Gary Balough and 15 others.

But before we can crown a new “King of the Short Tracks”, there are 300 laps and several storylines to work through.

Is 2013 Finally Bubba Pollard’s Year?

Senoia, GA’s Bubba Pollard has run up front at the World Crown. He’s finished towards the back. He’s even been on his lid in the famed 300 lapper. But the one place he’s not been yet is victory lane.

Not that he hasn’t seen his share of victories at Gresham Motorsports Park, including an emotional victory two years ago in the Beau Slocumb Memorial.

But this may be his best shot at winning the famed event. Pollard started off the Southern Super Series with back to back wins at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville and at Gresham. Pollard held off a hard charge from fellow Georgian T.J. Reaid to win the April 27 race at GMP.

Since then, Pollard has had his ups and downs in SSS events. A victory in the World Crown would be a good chance to rebound, and regain his early season momentum in his search to win the inaugural Southern Super Series championship.

But more importantly, it would give Pollard a win in one of the top short track late model races in the country, and a chance to finally wear the crown in victory lane.

Hemric Carries Momentum, Points Lead Into World Crown

Daniel Hemric has been one of the most consistent drivers in the Southern Super Series. After opening the season with a second place finish at Nashville, Hemric finished in the top five in four of the next five races before scoring back-to-back wins at 5 Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL and Mobile International Speedway in Irvington, AL.

With Bubba Pollard having suffered mechanical misfortunes in several events, Hemric comes into today’s World Crown 300 with great momentum and a 16 point lead over Pollard.

But what Hemric also carries into the event is a great deal of experience on the Jefferson high banks, not just behind the wheel, but with the team he drives for. Carswell Motorsports scored the World Crown back in 2010. That combined experience could translate into a trip to victory lane in the 30th annual World Crown.

Augie Grill Missing In Action

If you had asked anybody over the opening six races of the Southern Super Series for a list of favorites for the World Crown 300, Alabama hot shoe Augie Grill would be at the top of several lists.

Between his previous strong runs at GMP and the three victories he had scored on the tour, Grill would have to be considered one of the leading candidates to wear the crown.

But that was before June 21.

After winning the SSS event at 5 Flags Speedway, Grill was disqualified after a device discovered traces of unapproved fuel in a sample from his car. Grill was outraged by the situation, and vowed to walk away from the series. So far, he’s been true to his word.

But with $20,000 and the prestige of the World Crown on the line, many scribes thought he would make an exception for the event.

However, we have yet to see Grill’s famed No. 112 anywhere near Jefferson, Georgia, and there’s no indication that we will.

Former Winners Look To Win More Hardware

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Chase Elliott dominated last year’s edition of the event, becoming just the second driver in the 30 year history of the World Crown to win from the pole, joining 2004 winner Fredrick Moore in that distinction in the history books.

Elliott led 195 of the race’s 300 laps en route to the victory.

The Dawsonville, GA driver is spending most of his time this year racing in NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series and ARCA Racing Series. The World Crown will be one of a handful of asphalt Super Late Model events for him this year, and he’d like nothing better than to become the 11th driver to win multiple World Crowns.

But Dacula, GA’s Russell Fleeman would also like to join that list. The 2008 champion won the final World Crown to be held on the original Peach State layout of the track. Fleeman came back from a cut tire to outrun Taylor Satterfield and four-time World Crown winner Paul Kelley for the victory.

Fleeman comes into the Crown with the momentum from a strong fifth place finish in the Southern Super Series event at GMP back on April 27, along with strong runs in other Late Model events at his home track.

The veteran would like nothing more than to have that momentum carry him into victory lane again tonight.

Two other former World Crown winners are slated to be looking for victories tonight from pit road. 2005 winner and Georgia Racing Hall of Fame member Ronnie Sanders will be working to get his car, piloted by Hunter Robbins, into victory lane. 2000 World Crown champ Micky Cain will be working as crew chief for young driver Spencer Davis. 1998 winner Jimmy Garmon will be on the pit box for driver Dalton Grindle.

Format, Schmormat – 300 Laps, Straight Up, No Chaser

For the past two years, the World Crown 300 has been run in segmented form, with various gimmicks used to try to spice up the event.

But this year, there are no gimmicks. Just 300 laps of straight up, no holds barred, flat out, belly to the ground racing.

The 30th annual World Crown 300 will be run in its original format, which goes back to the first race in 1983. It will consist of 300 laps, with live pit stops. No formats, no breaks, no gimmicks.

That will mean that the winner of tonight’s race will drive in the tire tracks of greatness, having won the event the same way that racers such as Dick Trickle and Gary Balough.

Rain, Rain, Stay Away

The World Crown was originally slated to be run on July 4. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans.

Rains swept across the southeast, postponing and canceling several events. Race officials made the call to push the World Crown to Aug. 10.

Todays forecast calls for partly cloudy skies, with a 40% chance of rain.

With the possibility of inclimate weather, track officials have announced that they may have to make changes to the schedule. Any such changes will be posted on the track’s website at racegmp.com.

Hopefully the weather will cooperate, and allow racers, officials and race fans to see what they’ve waited over a month for – a classic World Crown race.

Who, What, Where, When

Trackside and ticket gates open at 11 am this morning, with the first practice session rolling off at 11. Super Late Model qualifying is slated to roll off at 4:25 pm. Local divisions, including Mini-Stocks, Sportsman/Renegades, Trucks, and Outlaw Late Models, are set to begin at 5 pm. Super Late Model driver introductions are slated for 6:30 pm, with the 30th annual World Crown 300 set to roll off at 7 pm.

For more info, visit racegmp.com.