Latest news with #MLBSpeedwayClassic
Forbes
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
Nascar Prepares For Epic Crossover With The MLB Speedway Classic
Former Atlanta Brave Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves mascot Blooper, and NASCAR drivers Chase Elliott ... More and Kevin Harvick pose for a photo during the MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol Announcement at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday, August 9, 2024 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Randy Sartin/MLB Photos via Getty Images) Bristol Motor Speedway – one of the most well-known tracks on the Nascar circuit – will look a whole lot different come Aug. 2. The entire infield will turn into a baseball field as the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds will play the MLB Speedway Classic presented by 'We're really bringing our sports together with the speed of Nascar and the speed of baseball,' Jerry Caldwell, president of Bristol Motor Speedway, said. "The deep roots of country music that was born in Bristol, Tennessee. All of these things are converging into one. When you have Tim McGraw, Pitbull and Jake Owen meeting with the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds and the deep history of Nascar, it's all taking place at Bristol Motor Speedway. 'Fan experience is really important to us. There will be a tremendous fan plaza launching before the game. As you go in, you'll be able to enjoy Tim McGraw, Pitbull, international stars, then you'll see the first Major League Baseball game inside of a racetrack.' Bristol usually hosts a pair of Nascar races, but the Speedway Motorsports-owned facility has recently gotten quite creative. In 2016, it held the Battle at Bristol NCAA game between the University of Tennessee Volunteers and the Virginia Tech Hokies, holding a record 156,990 fans. The MLB Speedway Classic, which will air on FOX, will be the first-ever MLB game played in Tennessee. The MLB Fan Zone will not only have live music, but also batting cages, food trucks, racecars to take photos with, a ferris wheel and more. Construction is shown of the ball field being constructed in the infield of Bristol Motor Speedway ... More during a Speedway Classic Open House Event at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, TN on June 24, 2025. (Ben Earp/Ben Earp Photography) Talks to host a baseball game at Bristol first began several years ago, around the time of the college football match. The Speedway Motorsports management team then brought in engineers to see if it's possible to turn the .5-mile racetrack into a baseball field, and then back into a racetrack. Caldwell explained that since this announcement took place, there have been an influx of companies interested in sponsorship packages with the racetrack. Several of those organizations are ones that have not purchased sponsorship packages for Nascar races and they may do so now. 'They are seeing the value of the crossover and the value of this unique event,' Caldwell said. 'Our NCAA football game is one that people still talk about and say, 'I was there' or 'I wish I was there.' This will be that type of event, and fans and companies want to be part of it.' The base for the field has already been constructed, and the grass will be delivered within a few weeks. 'I grew up playing baseball as a kid, so to go to Bristol in the spring and see the layout on the asphalt and trying to picture a baseball field on the infield at Bristol is wild,' 2023 Daytona 500 champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. said. 'For me, Bristol is by far the coolest venue we go to. The way the fans sound in that place is electric, and that's even with racecars on it. I can't imagine what it's going to be like with a baseball game. 'For us on the Nascar side, it gets the fans coming for the baseball game excited to come see a race at Bristol. As a racer, I would tell any fan to come see an event at Bristol.' Bristol will have just over a month to reconstruct its infield ahead of the Bass Pro Shops Night Race, which is the Cup Series regular season finale on Sept. 13. Not only will the grass need to be removed from the infield, but portions of the pit wall and the Goodyear Tire Building will need to be reconstructed. 'We're marrying these two fan bases together,' Caldwell concluded.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
AstroTurf® Selected as Surface Provider for MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway
DALTON, Ga., June 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AstroTurf®, the Official Synthetic Turf Partner of Major League Baseball®, has been chosen to provide the playing surface for the MLB Speedway Classic presented by a historic matchup between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds set inside the iconic Bristol Motor Speedway. In an extraordinary feat of engineering and coordination, the infield of one of NASCAR's most legendary venues will be transformed into a professional-grade MLB baseball field in just ten days, an ambitious undertaking made possible by AstroTurf's Diamond Series system and decades of expertise in premium sports surfacing. "We're honored to be the turf provider for such an extraordinary event," said Philip Snider, Chief Operating Officer of AstroTurf Corporation. "Converting a high-speed racing venue into a baseball stadium in just over a week is no small task, but our experienced construction team is built for this kind of challenge. This is more than a game, it is a celebration of innovation, tradition, and the limitless spirit of sport." The AstroTurf® Diamond Series, designed specifically for baseball, will deliver a surface that mirrors the performance characteristics of natural grass while withstanding the demands of a temporary, high-profile installation. Engineered for consistent ball bounce, optimal traction, and true playability, the Diamond Series is trusted by elite programs at every level. As a proud partner of the MLB Speedway Classic and the Official Synthetic Turf Partner of Major League Baseball, AstroTurf continues to lead the industry in transforming bold ideas into unforgettable experiences. About AstroTurf®AstroTurf® is a pioneer in synthetic turf innovation and the Official Synthetic Turf of Major League Baseball. With more than 60 years of legacy, AstroTurf provides high-performance playing surfaces for every level of competition. The AstroTurf Diamond Series, specifically engineered for baseball, offers sport-specific performance with unmatched durability and safety. Trusted by professional teams, NCAA programs, and high-profile events, AstroTurf remains at the forefront of athletic field innovation. Major League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of Major League Baseball. Visit Media Contact:Gary JonesDirector of Marketing, AstroTurf 706-581-1253 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE AstroTurf Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Pitbull and Tim McGraw to perform before Braves vs. Reds at Bristol Motor Speedway
Major League Baseball is proud to announce that, for the first time, entertainment and sports will face off against each other, as MLB presents the 2025 MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug 02, 2025. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The event features an MLB regular-season game between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds, marking the first-ever MLB game in the state of Tennessee. In addition, country musician Tim McGraw is set to perform a pregame concert, as well as international pop phenomenon Pitbull, making it an unforgettable experience for fans. A historic venue, Bristol Motor Speedway, meets America's pastime This will be held at Bristol Motor Speedway, which is known for NASCAR, but will convert its famous half-mile oval into a baseball diamond just for this event. The site, which can set 165,000 or more, has been the site of large-scale events, including the 2016 college football record-setting game between Tennessee and Virginia Tech. The Speedway Classic is another move from MLB's playbook to make baseball more accessible away from traditional stadiums and ballparks, but not the first, given the successful 'Field of Dreams' game in Iowa and games already played at Fort Bragg and Rickwood Field. The game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET and will air nationally on FOX, and will be considered a home game for the Reds. There will be a temporary baseball diamond over the infield of the speedway with 330-foot lines and a 400-foot centerfield. Looks like one can kill two birds with one stone, as these guys try to set up an innovative viewing experience, combining the suspense of baseball with a big-race venue. Music and baseball collide for an unforgettable event Tim McGraw and Pitbull are also part of the entertainment-centric vibe of the announcement, with a pregame concert before the event. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now McGraw has a baseball background, with his dad, Tug McGraw, being a two-time World Series champion. The parties are even more fun with the lively Ojito himself – Pitbull, who brings the heat into your backyard. Together, the two will kick off the evening, emphasizing the intersection between sports and music in an electrifying tone. Also Read: MLB Speedway Classic tickets are on sale on the Cincinnati Reds' website, and a share of sales during December will aid local non-profits. Anyone who plans to be in the Denver area during the 2025 MLB season should book their seats now for this historic game, as it will undoubtedly be one of the defining moments of the 2025 season.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Latin sensation' joins concert lineup for historic MLB game to be played on motorsports track
A chart-topping Latin performer will be joining a long-time country music star for a historic MLB game featuring the Cincinnati Reds. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Major League Baseball announced Tuesday that Pitbull will join headliner Tim McGraw for a pregame concert at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 2. Advertisement It will be the first MLB game to be played on a motorsport track. The two will perform before the Cincinnati Reds take on the Atlanta Braves in this historic game for the MLB. TRENDING STORIES: According to a media release, all MLB Speedway Classic ticket holders will have access to the pregame concert. The show starts one hour before the first pitch of the game, which is the first American or National League game ever played in Tennessee. With hits like 'Give Me Everything,' 'Timber,' and 'Fireball,' Pitbull is known for his stage presence and feel-good anthems. Pitbull made headlines with Tim McGraw in 2024 when they released 'Get Get Get Down,' a racing-inspired single. Advertisement Pitbull has an extensive history with the MLB. He performed at Citi Field before the 2013 MLB All-Star Game and at loanDepot Park before the 2017 T-Mobile Home Run Derby, according to the media release. Pitbull also collaborated with MLB player José Iglesias on the 2024 'OMG' remix, which was an anthem for the New York Mets during their run in the postseason. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Fox Sports
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s No. 8 back for MLB's Speedway Classic
NASCAR's iconic No. 8 will feature once again at the high banks as part of MLB's marquee event of the season. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will reunite with an updated version of his red-and-white color scheme in support of the MLB Speedway Classic, set for Aug. 2 between the Cincinnati Reds and the Atlanta Braves at Bristol Motor Speedway. The iconic racetrack in Bristol, Tennessee, will be temporarily converted into a baseball diamond in the latest move to hold games in unique settings. MLB has previously played games in places like the Field of Dreams in Iowa; in Birmingham, Alabama, to celebrate Negro League baseball; and overseas in London. And while it will be MLB's first foray into holding a game at a racetrack, Earnhardt, Jr. is no stranger to Bristol. During his NASCAR Cup Series career, Earnhardt had nine victories at the Speedway. There's also a baseball connection to one of the most recognizable designs in motorsports. Earnhardt piloted the No. 8 red-and-white design – adorned with a Budweiser/MLB All-Star scheme – in July 2001 on his way to winning the Pepsi 400. That race also marked his return to Daytona International Speedway after the death of his father, Dale Earnhardt, at the track earlier that year. The Aug. 2 game will be the first regular-season MLB game held in Tennessee, and could break baseball's attendance record, which currently stands at 115,000 from a 2008 preseason game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. The Bristol racetrack has a listed capacity of 146,000 and saw more than 159,000 people attend a Tennessee-Virginia Tech college football game in 2016. Dale Jr., who retired from full-time competition in 2017, will also race in the No. 8 scheme at the zMAX CARS Tour event on August 16 at the Anderson Motor Speedway in South Carolina. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
