Bristol Motor Speedway field awaits MLB Speedway Classic
The Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds will play at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday for Tennessee’s first MLB game.
Provided by Bristol Motor Speedway
Major League Baseball is making history on Saturday, Aug. 2, set to shatter an attendance record in the first regular season game played in Tennessee, taking place at Bristol Motor Speedway between the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds.
The game faced a two-hour delay due to rain before the game was set to begin. The game is expected to start at 9:40 p.m. ET, according to the Fox Broadcast.
The famed racetrack has been converted to host baseball for the showcase, with over 85,000 fans expected on hand for the first-of-its-kind event. MLB’s previous attendance record was 84,587, a 1954 game in Cleveland featuring the New York Yankees.
“We’re locked and loaded,” Reds pitcher Brent Suter said. ”I tell you who’s locked in is the wives. We’ve got all these kids who are gonna be in like pit crew outfits. And wives with NASCAR boots and stuff.
“It’s awesome,” Suter said. “Their buy-in is off the charts.”
The evening should feature stunning visuals from the racetrack that opened in 1961 and can seat nearly 150,000 for motorsports:
The MLB Speedway Classic game between the Reds and the Braves is scheduled to begin at 9:40 p.m. Eastern Time following a long delay due to rain.
Former MLB All-Star David Ortiz was tasked as a member of the Fox broadcast team to help stall for time while the MLB Speedway Classic was delayed.
Oritz was seated next to Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Kevin Burkhardt throughout part of the show before getting out of his seat and visiting a bar at the venue.
Ortiz interacted with the crowd while talking to his broadcast team and joked about Jeter and Rodriguez picking up the bill for everyone sharing a beverage.
Fans in Tennessee waited out the rain while waiting for the start of the game. Some fans wore team-themed ponchos and remained seated.
Rain or shine, some fans are still having a good time.
The MLB Speedway Classic was delayed nearly two hours due to rain in the area. The tarp that covered the field was removed and final preparation is happening before the game can begin.
Not only did the weather delay impact the game’s start time, but who would play on Saturday night.
Spencer Strider, who was originally slated as a starter, will not pitch for the Atlanta Braves.
MLB’s official X account provided a video of the pregame flyover from the roof of Bristol Motor Speedway.
An NASCAR pit crew helped introduce the starting lineups for both the Reds and Braves.
JUST IN: The Braves and Reds have revealed exclusive uniforms for the Speedway Classic 🏁
The Braves cap features flames on the top of the visor, while the Reds cap has checkered racing flags across its visor
The jersey numbers reflect the spirit of numbers on racecars
The 2… pic.twitter.com/SrH5Ck5Rbu
— MLB (@MLB) July 21, 2025
Bristol Motor Speedway provided a time-lapse video of the transformation.
The MLB has brought its product to the state of Tennessee for the first time in the league’s history. Tennessee joins the list of states that have recently hosted an MLB game.
Since 2016, five different states welcomed the MLB for the first time.
North Carolina (2016)Nebraska (2019)Iowa (2021)Alabama (2022)Tennessee (2025)
Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Chipper Jones unveiled the trophy that will go to the winning team.
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