Major League Baseball today announced that country music superstar Jake Owen will join Tim McGraw and Pitbull for their special pregame concert at Bristol Motor Speedway before the Atlanta Braves take on the Cincinnati Reds in the MLB Speedway Classic presented by BuildSubmarines.com on August 2nd. In addition to the pregame concert inside the Last Great Colosseum, even more musical performances are scheduled for the Speedway Classic Fan Zone, an experiential event on the perimeter of the iconic venue that MLB is hosting to welcome the thousands of fans attending this historic baseball spectacle.
Before stepping inside Tennessee’s famed Bristol Motor Speedway, Jake Owen headlines a full day of musical sets in the Speedway Classic Fan Zone, a one-of-a-kind baseball fan festival that spans more than 220,000 square feet with interactive games, live music, unique regional food, exhibits, special guests and custom photo ops for fans of all ages.
Joining him in performing throughout the day in the Fan Zone are fellow country music artists Timothy Wayne, Reyna Roberts and Adam Doleac. MLB today shared a first look of renderings of the Fan Zone available at this link. More images are available at MLB.com/SpeedwayClassic. MLB is collaborating with Good People, an experiential agency, to help produce the Fan Zone.
Activities at the Speedway Classic Fan Zone include:
• Live musical performances by country stars Jake Owen, Timothy Wayne, Reyna Roberts & Adam Doleac
• Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2001 MLB All-Star Game inspired show car
• Commissioner’s Trophy on display for fan photos
• 110-foot Ferris Wheel
• Mastercard Food Truck Row featuring local Tennessee cuisine
• Pitching Tunnels and Batting Cages
• MLB Network live broadcast set
• Branded MLB stock cars for photo opportunities
• Legacy Walk, an exhibit highlighting great players from the Reds and Braves
• 20 business partners hosting brand activations
• Budweiser Clydesdales
• Corona beach-inspired lounge and beer garden
• Team Mascots
• ESPN’s SportsCenter: 50 States in 50 Days live broadcast set
Known for his laid-back style and chart-topping hits like “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” and “Made for You,” Jake Owen is an award-winning country music star with a career-spanning collection of gold and platinum certifications, ten No.1 singles and over 2.5 billion U.S. on-demand streams.
Timothy Wayne is quickly carving out a name for himself as one of country music’s most exciting new voices. A proud Tennessee native and LSU Tiger, Wayne brings deep Southern roots and a deep respect for the genre’s legends to every note he sings. His sound is a seamless blend of classic country soul and fresh, modern energy. American Songwriter hailed his “respect for tradition and ability to bring it into the now.”
Recently featured in Cowboy Carter and paving her own country music career, Reyna Roberts was recognized as one of CMT's Next Women of Country.
Adam Doleac released his Famous EP in 2020, which has amassed over 110 million on-demand streams to date. He has also co-written music for country music superstars, including Lainey Wilson, Dan + Shay, Gabby Barrett, Kane Brown and Darius Rucker.
BuildSubmarines.com, the presenting sponsor of the Speedway Classic, will introduce attending fans to exciting careers in maritime manufacturing through a variety of engaging activities. Inside the Fan Zone, the large BuildSubmarines.com activation space will feature interactive demonstrations, hands-on experiences, and promotional giveaways designed to connect fans with the skills and opportunities behind submarine manufacturing.
Budweiser, the longest tenured current sponsor of MLB, will offer fans the opportunity to take a photo with the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, see the Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2001 MLB All-Star Game inspired show car, which has been updated to feature the 2025 MLB Speedway Classic logo, and experience what it’s like to race the car that pays homage to the iconic No. 8 Budweiser / MLB All-Star paint scheme by driving Budweiser and NASCAR racing simulators. Fans 21+ can also enjoy a mobile bar with a roof deck to relax and take in the Fan Zone.
With its popularity at MLB All-Star Week, Mastercard Food Truck Row is bringing a variety of food trucks with a range of cuisines from the Bristol, TN area to the Speedway Classic Fan Zone. Meanwhile, Corona will debut a relaxed, beach-inspired oasis activation featuring shaded lounge areas, beer garden-style seating, and subtle baseball elements.
All MLB Speedway Classic ticketholders will have access to the Fan Zone, which opens at 12:00 p.m. on gameday. Ticketholders will also have access to the pregame concert featuring Tim McGraw, Pitbull and Jake Owen starting approximately one hour before first pitch. Fans can enjoy that performance from their seat and on Bristol’s iconic Colossus video board. Fans can secure tickets to the game, upgrades closer to the stage and new, limited ticket options for premium concert viewing now at MLB.com/SpeedwayClassic. FOX plans to feature portions of the special performance during their pregame event coverage.
The MLB Speedway Classic presented by BuildSubmarines.com will mark the first American or National League game ever played in Tennessee, which will become the fifth different state across the country since 2016 to host an MLB game that will be a first-time AL or NL contest.
The MLB Speedway Classic follows other recent special events that have taken groundbreaking Major League games to non-traditional domestic locales, including the 2016 Fort Bragg Game (which included the Braves playing the Miami Marlins); the annual Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pennsylvania since 2017; MLB in Omaha at the NCAA’s Men’s College World Series in 2019; MLB at Field of Dreams in 2021 and 2022 (the latter of which included the Reds playing the Chicago Cubs); and MLB at Rickwood Field: A Tribute to the Negro Leagues in 2024. These events marked the first AL or NL games ever played in North Carolina, Nebraska, Iowa and Alabama, respectively.
