EXHIBIT 99.2

                [CROWN NEWS RELEASE LETTERHEAD]


                                       Institutional Inquiries:
                                       JOHN E. WHEELER, JR.
                                       Executive Vice President
                                       and Chief Financial Officer
                                       (410) 659-4803

                                       Shareholder Inquiries:
                                       J. STEVEN WISE, Manager,
                                       Corporate & Government Affairs
                                       (410) 659-4859


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Baltimore, Maryland - March 17, 2000



ROSEMORE EXTENDS CROWN BUYOUT PROPOSAL
- --------------------------------------


     On March 7, 2000, Crown Central Petroleum Corporation (CNPa and CNPb on
the American Stock Exchange) announced that it had received a proposal from
Rosemore, Inc., a Maryland corporation that owns approximately 49% of Crown's
Class A common stock and 11% of Crown's Class B common stock, to acquire all of
the issued and outstanding Class A and Class B common stock held by
shareholders other than Rosemore for a price of $8.35 per share. The Rosemore
proposal is subject to, among other conditions, the negotiation of a mutually
acceptable merger agreement, the unanimous approval of Crown's independent
directors, the approval of the transaction by Crown's shareholders, and the
receipt of all necessary governmental approvals.
     The Rosemore proposal was, by its terms, to expire at 5 p.m. on Friday
March 17, 2000. Rosemore has advised Crown that its proposal has been extended
until 5 p.m. (Maryland time) on Monday, April 17, 2000, or until rejected.
     Crown Central's board committee of its independent directors is continuing
to consider Rosemore's proposal.
     Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland since 1930, Crown operates two Texas
refineries with a total capacity of 152,000 barrels per day, 331 Crown gasoline
stations and convenience stores in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern U.S., and
13 product terminals along the Colonial, Plantation and Texas Eastern Product
pipelines.