The Surprises of the World Crown

The Invader: No one had Chris Wimmer on their bingo card in 2011 when he drove south to run the World Crown 300.  The Wausau, Wisconsin driver started 13th in a field full of southern Super Late Model talent.  By the end of the first 100 laps, they realized that he was there to play.  After a tire rotation, Wimmer made his way back to the front on lap 129 and was never touched after that. The win was his lone World Crown start; why try it again when you were batting 1.000? 

First Major Win: Preston Peltier’s win is not an upset now when you think about it, however, then he hadn’t won anything over 200 laps, and he hadn’t won any major Super Late Model events.  After starting third, Peltier mixed it up with the leader most of the night.  By lap 200, his car was like a fine wine as he took the lead for the first time on lap 209.  Other than a brief stint with Bubba Pollard out front, Peltier led the rest of the way to claim the crown. 

This win helped open the floodgates to win the Summer Showdown in Washington state, the Chilly Willy in Arizona, and the Colorado Challenge Cup.  The World Crown 300 win was just the start for Peltier. 

Good and Lucky: For Justin Wakefield, the engine teardown in post-race tech was just as nerve-wracking as the race.  The 300-lap affair saw him lead the most laps, but after halfway he didn’t lead again until Chase Elliott missed a shift on the start.  For Wakefield, on paper, he looked to be the best car, but he had to overcome that and Donnie Wilson, who dominated before a blown engine 33 laps from the finish.  Once the victory was in hand, the post-race tech process went well into the night to ensure he was legal. 

One Lap Was Enough: Back in 2014, just about everything that could go wrong for a driver at the World Crown 300 did.  Augie Grill dominated the race and looked to be on his way to a crown-wearing victory lane party; Grill was never around for the finish.  Bubba Pollard took the lead only to have a tire go down.  Then it was Kyle Grissom’s turn out front before Casey Roderick got by him on the final lap with a bump-and-run.  Roderick led one lap in the race, the one that paid.

Don’t forget the World Crown 300 weekend is coming up on October 23rd and October 24th.  The ASA Southern Super Series will also crown the 2026 series champion.  There is a chance that one driver could walk out of the Cordele as winner and champion after 300 laps.