When Lanier National Speedway ceased weekly events in 2011, racing fans were left with sparse days on the calendar to get a glimpse of the sport’s future stars on a local short track. Thursday is an exception, as Gresham Motorsports Park in Jefferson kicks off the Fourth of July weekend with its World Crown 300, one of the half-mile track’s headline races it holds each season. The race, which dates back 30 years, is part of the Southern Super Series, a popular short track circuit that races in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Florida.