New Challenges Await Super Late Model Competitors in World Crown Return at Cordele

The return of the World Crown 300 is bringing a few unknowns.

The event was once one of the most historic in all of Late Model racing, starting in 1983 at the track later known as Gresham Motorsports Park. After a decade hiatus following Gresham's closing, the race is back under the UARA National banner at Cordele Motor Speedway.

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While Cordele is a familiar racetrack for many of the south's Super Late Model competitors, the World Crown 300 comes with plenty of unique challenges. A longer race distance, a new format, and UARA National's American Racer tires all make the World Crown different than any race Cordele has seen before.

RELATED: Everything You Need to Know for the World Crown 300 at Cordele

No one understands those differences more than Bubba Pollard. One of the most successful drivers at Cordele, Pollard readily admitted there is some guesswork going into Saturday's race.

"This is the first time we've had Supers here with these tires," Pollard told Racing America following Friday's practice. "It's just different. You've just got to change some things up and get back some balance. We've got a good baseline around here for years now, but it's quite a bit different today.

"It'll be interesting. It'll be a long race. Super long. There will be a little 'nutrition' just to get to the end, is the biggest thing. If you can just stay on the lead lap, you've got a shot at the end, depending on what you do tire-wise. A lot of games are going to be played, I feel like.

"To be honest with you, we really don't know. True story. We have no idea. All of us are in the same boat, because we haven't raced the tire here. We've all been on the tire for the most part, but we don't know."

While Pollard was searching for answers as practice day ended on Friday, Michael Hinde had one of the quickest cars on the property. Hinde set the fastest lap of the day during the first hour of practice, and placed second in final practice.

"I'm hoping we can qualify top five," said Hinde. "There's a ton of really good race cars here. There's a bunch of them that can win. It's another really big race, and a real big money race. you know they're bringing their A-Game. I'm really hoping to qualify in the top five or top ten, get a good starting spot and finish all the laps."

Still, Hinde is uncertain how to approach Saturday, with qualifying and heat races determining the feature lineup.

"I don't really know how to feel about it yet. Super Late Models never really run heat races or nothing like that. It'll be interesting, I'm curious to see how it will go. I'm looking forward to trying it."

While there aren't many heat races for Super Late Models in the southeast, one driver in the World Crown 300 field with experience in heat racing is Derek Thorn, making the trek from the West Coast for the $35,000-to-win event.

"Washington does a similar deal," said Thorn. "We qualify and then end up having heat races, 20 or 30-lap heat races. In the first segment of a 100-lap race, you've got 20 or 30-lap heat race tires.

"It's just going to be tire management. These tires fall off a little harder than I thought they would, for how hard they are. I think everybody's on ice after a certain number of laps."

However, everything else will be brand-new for Thorn, making his first appearance at Cordele and his first start with Highlands Motorsports.

"It's line-dependent, very much so, and this was my first time on American Racers," said Thorn. "Getting used to the track, getting used to the tire. Obviously, Josh Reeves and Highlands Motorsports have given me a great opportunity here, but we are learning as we go because this is new territory for all of us trying to figure everything out.

"We made some progress today. We gained some speed, I think we led the session in practice three. We have some high hopes for tomorrow, some more things we'd like to try but ultimately ran out of time."

No matter who you ask, however, everyone is excited to be taking part in the return of the World Crown 300.

"I'm glad the World Crown is back," said Pollard. "It's at a different place. We would have loved to have won it at Gresham, old Peach State, Jefferson. I always loved that place, but I'm glad to see Ricky [Brooks] and the Nolands bring this race back. Hopefully, it can be bigger and better every year and back to what it used to be and keep it going."

"All in all, it's fun to see Ricky Brooks and the Noland family," echoed Thorn. "It's a great facility here, and to put on a race like this and the money they're paying, a testament to them for having it and putting it on. It's really cool to see this many good Late Model teams here and it's cool to be racing with them."

Fans can watch the World Crown 300 live on RacingAmerica.TV on Saturday, with coverage starting at 4:30 p.m. ET. Click here to subscribe today and watch the World Crown 300 from Cordele Motor Speedway.