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CROWN
(registered trademark)

Crown Central Petroleum Corporation
Refiners / marketers of petroleum products & petrochemicals
One  North Charles Street, P.O. Box 1168, Baltimore, Maryland 21203, (410)  539-
7400

                                        
EXHIBIT 20

July 31, 1997  RESULTS SECOND QUARTER 1997


Dear Shareholders:

     Crown Central Petroleum Corporation announced today a net profit of $7.9
million ($.82 per share) in the second quarter of 1997, compared to a net profit
of $3.0 million ($.31 per share) in the second quarter of 1996.  Sales and
operating revenues for the second quarter were $391 million compared to revenues
of $431 million in the second quarter of 1996.

     Strong demand for petroleum products, lower crude oil costs, successful
operating strategies, and favorable refining margins contributed to the
significantly improved profitability for the quarter.

     For the first six months of 1997, the Company had a net profit of $8.6
million ($.89 per share) on revenues of $786 million compared to a net loss of
$10.0 million ($1.03 per share) on revenues of $802 million in the first half of
1996.

     The industry benchmark 3.2.1 Gulf Coast refining margin averaged $3.61 per
barrel for the second quarter, a substantial improvement over similar periods.
Contributing to Crown's improved refining results was the drop in West Texas
Intermediate Crude that averaged $19.98 per barrel for the quarter.  Margins
were further improved by favorable costs for VGO (vacuum gas oil) the primary
feedstock for the fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, Crown's primary gasoline
producing unit.  The Company's refining profit, before taxes, increased $13.7
million in the second quarter this year as compared to 1996 and $12.6 million
for first six months.  Both refineries are operating well and at high efficiency
levels.

     Retail marketing continued to contribute significantly to Crown's operating
results, although quarterly comparisons were down.  For the 1997 second quarter,
net retail profit before income tax totaled $4.3 million compared to $10.5
million for the second quarter of 1996.  For the first six months of 1997, net
retail profit totaled $8.0 million compared to $8.1 million for the prior year
period.

     Retail same store gasoline volumes increased 2% for the quarter and overall
gasoline volumes were up slightly.  With the marked improvement in Gulf Coast
refining margins, retail gasoline margins predictably declined from last year's
extraordinarily high levels.  Merchandise gross margins improved 4% compared to
the same period last year on a same store basis.  Overall merchandise sales were
flat.  The gasoline station and convenience store count stands at 337 units.

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     Crown's operating strategies and a favorable marketing climate have
resulted in significantly improved margins for our refined products.  There's
much work to be done to maintain and ensure profitability, but our progress to
date has been encouraging.  I am also extremely pleased with the recent
improvement of our refining and marketing operations.

     At the end of June, despite heavy lobbying from the oil and refining
sections, as well as a broad coalition of industry groups, President Clinton
announced his support for the US EPA's controversial proposals to revise the
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone and particulate matter.
Opposition was based on the cost and inconclusive research used to justify the
action.  Crown continues to work aggressively both directly and with our trade
organizations to bring a common sense resolution to this issue.

     The lock-out at Houston continues without any meaningful progress being
made.  The Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers (OCAW) union, having been largely
unsuccessful before the National Labor Relations Board, has now engaged in a
campaign orchestrated against the Company which has resulted in additional
litigation in Texas Federal and State court.  This is part of the union's
"corporate campaign" strategy.  The Company will aggressively defend itself
against all charges.

     In December, the Board of Directors directed the Company to review its
tobacco sales practices to ensure that the Company was complying with current
laws and regulations and to ensure that the Company would be prepared for new
developments, including a new Food & Drug Administration (FDA) tobacco marketing
rule.  The Company has begun its review and has already revised its advertising
policies and instituted enhanced training and compliance procedures with the
goal of preventing the sale of tobacco products to minors.  During the quarter,
there were two major developments in this arena.  A federal judge in North
Carolina ruled on the validity of the FDA's rule, upholding some parts and
striking down others.  The ruling is on appeal.  In addition, five major tobacco
manufacturers reached a settlement in principle with certain state attorneys
general and plaintiffs' attorneys that included changes in a variety of
marketing practices.  The Company is monitoring these developments carefully.

     Thank you for your continued support and confidence during this challenging
period.


                         Sincerely,


                         /s/--Henry A. Rosenberg, Jr.
                         HENRY A. ROSENBERG, JR.
                         Chairman of the Board,
                         Chief Executive Officer and President

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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


         Crown Central Petroleum Corporation and Subsidiaries
              Dollars in thousands, except per share data
                                                              
                              Six Months Ended     Three Months Ended
                                   June 30               June 30
                               1997       1996       1997       1996
                            ---------   --------  ---------   --------
<S>                             <C>    <C>        <C>             <C>
Sales and operating         $785,963   $802,299   $391,450    $431,208
revenues
                                                              
Income (loss) before               1    (16,627                                         )  12,891                    1,383
income taxes                4,314
                                                              
Net income (loss)                  8     (9,998                                         )   7,907                    3,012
                            ,631
                                                              
Net income (loss) per              .      (1.03                                         )     .82                    .31
share                       89
                                                              
Weighted average shares                                       
used in the computation of         9   9,711,040  9,733,813                   9,663,795
income (loss) per share     ,733,647
                                                              

<FN>
Note:  The weighted average number of shares used in the calculation of net
income (loss) per share for the three and six months June 30, 1997 and 1996 have
been restated from those numbers originally reported in the Letter to the
Shareholders dated July 31, 1997 to reflect a subsequent revision in the
calculation.  This change had no effect on the net income (loss) per share for
these periods as originally reported.

</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                 CROWN CENTRAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
                        OPERATING STATISTICS
                                                           
                              Six Months Ended    Three Months Ended
                                   June 30              June 30
                               1997       1996      1997      1996
                            ---------  ---------  --------  --------
                                           -          -         -
<S>                         <C>        <C>        <C>       <C>
COMBINED REFINERY                                           
OPERATIONS
-----------------------
                                                            
Production (BPD - M)              159       150       165        149
Production (MMbbl)               28.9      27.4      15.0       13.8
Sales (MMbbl)                    30.7      30.1      16.4       15.6
Gross Margin ($/bbl)             2.40      2.08      2.76       1.89
Gross Profit ($MM)               73.7      62.6      45.3       29.6
Operating Cost ($/bbl)          (2.04                                         )   (2.13)    (1.93)     (1.91        )
Operating Cost ($MM)            (62.7                                         )   (64.2)    (31.8)     (29.8        )
Refining Operating Profit        11.0      (1.6)     13.5       (0.2        )
(Loss)  ($MM)
                                                            
RETAIL                                                      
-----------------------
Number Stores                     337       350       337        350
Volume (pmps - Mgal)              130       124       133        127
Volume (MMgal)                    263       260       134        133
Gasoline Gross Margin           0.111     0.123     0.108      0.163
($/gal)
Gasoline Gross Profit ($MM)      29.3      32.0      14.4       21.6
                                                            
Merchandise Sales (pmps -        25.1      24.0      26.2       25.5
$M)
Merchandise Sales ($MM)          50.7      50.3      26.5       26.8
Merchandise Gross Margin         30.8      28.7      30.9       30.1
(%)
Merchandise Gross Profit         15.6      14.4       8.2        8.1
($MM)
                                                            
Retail Gross Profit ($MM)        44.9      46.4      22.6       29.7
Retail Operating Costs          (17.9                                         )   (18.6)    (17.5)     (18.7        )
(pmps - $M)
Retail Operating Costs          (36.1                                         )   (39.1)    (17.7)     (19.7        )
($MM)
Retail Non-Operating             (0.8                                         )     0.8      (0.6)       0.5
(Expense) Income ($MM)
Retail Operating Profit           8.0       8.1       4.3       10.5
($MM)
                                                            
WHOLESALE / TERMINAL                                        
  OPERATING (LOSS) PROFIT        (4.2                                         )     0.0      (2.4)      (1.5        )
($MM)
                                                            
OTHER                                                       
----------
                                                            
LIFO Recovery (Provision)        16.7      (8.9)      6.8       (1.2        )
($MM)
Corporate Overhead  ($MM)       (10.4                                         )   (10.0)     (5.4)      (5.1        )
Net Interest / Other ($MM)       (6.8                                         )    (4.2)     (3.9)      (1.1        )
Income Tax (Expense)             (5.7                                         )     6.6      (5.0)       1.6
Benefit ($MM)
                                                            
Total Net (Loss) Income           8.6     (10.0)      7.9        3.0
($MM)
                                                            
Depreciation & Amortization      15.3      16.0       7.5        8.0
($MM)
LIFO (Recovery) Provision       (16.7                                         )     8.9      (6.8)       1.2
($MM)
(Gain) loss from Asset           (0.2                                         )     0.0       0.4        0.0
Disposals ($MM)
Income Tax Expense                5.7      (6.6)      5.0       (1.6        )
(Benefit) ($MM)
                                                            
EBITDAAL ($MM)                   18.5      14.5      16.9       13.8
                                                            
                                                            

<FN>

Note:  To conform to the 1997 presentation, certain 1996 marketing
administrative expenses have been reclassified from Retail Operating Expenses to
Corporate Overhead.  This reclassification had no effect on the net loss or
EBITDAAL figures as originally presented.

BPD = Barrels Per Day
bbl = barrel or barrels as applicable
gal = gallon or gallons as applicable
pmps = per month per store
M = in thousands
MM = in millions

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