Format Announced for Return of World Crown 300 at Cordele

When the World Crown 300 makes its return to Cordele Motor Speedway on October 25-26, it will do so with a unique format that will challenge UARA National Super Late Model teams throughout race day.

A combination of single-car qualifying and heat races will determine the starting lineup for the 300-lap, $35,000-to-win Super Late Model event. While there will be Super Late Model practice available for teams on Friday, October 25, the entirety of the racing program takes place on Saturday, October 26.

At 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, teams will take part in single-car, green-white-checkered qualifying. The top two qualifiers during this session will be locked onto the front row for the World Crown 300. However, they must still take part in the following heat races and run all the laps to maintain those starting positions.

Drivers will be scored based on their placement in the qualifying session, with a one-point drop between each position in the qualifying order. Furthermore, the qualifying results will set the lineups for a series of heat races.

While the number of heat races will be determined by number of entrants, the series offered an example based on a 45-car field in its announcement, with three 15-car heat races. Participants will also be awarded points based on their heat race finish, with the combination of qualifying and heat race points determining the starting lineups beyond the first row. In the case of a tie in points, single-car qualifying results will be used to break the tie.

Racing begins at 6 p.m., with a Last Chance Qualifier 25-lap race as well as a 50-lap Non Qualifiers Race. An autograph session and driver introductions will folllow, with the 32nd running of the World Crown 300 ending the racing program.

The World Crown was previously contested at Gresham Motorsports Park in Jefferson, Georgia. The inaugural World Crown 300 took place in 1983, with Dick Trickle scoring the victory.

The list of World Crown 300 winners includes several other all-time greats of stock car racing, including Darrell Waltrip, Rich Bickle, Gary Balough, Bobby Gill, Ronnie Sanders, and Chase Elliott.

Paul Kelley was the winningest driver in the event’s history, winning four times in 2001, 2006, 2007 and 2009. Casey Roderick won the final World Crown 300 before the track closed in 2014.

For more information about the World Crown 300 at Cordele Motor Speedway, go to www.cordelemotorspeedway.com or www.uararacing.com.

-Photo credit: Koty Geyer