One of the special features of the historic MLB Speedway Classic presented by BuildSubmarines.com at Bristol Motor Speedway were all of the fun NASCAR integrations.
MLB creatively pulled the two sports together for a game that set an attendance record for a Major League Baseball regular season contest (91,032). The Braves won the much-anticipated game 4-2 with a tense finish where the Reds rallied in the bottom of the ninth but ultimately were unable to score.
NASCAR was strategically woven into the pre-game ceremonies, in-game presentation, the Fan Zone, and the post-game ceremonies. Braves radio announcers Ben Ingram and Darren O'Day were dressed to the nines in NASCAR attire and Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson got in on the fun by wearing Talladega Nights Ricky Bobby-themed catcher’s gear.
The Clubs wore NASCAR-inspired uniforms. The Braves caps featured flames on the brim, while the brim of the Reds caps were covered with a checkered flag pattern. The uniform numbers for both teams were consistent with NASCAR style numbers. Both teams’ jerseys had MLB Speedway Classic patches on the sleeve.
In the Fan Zone there were Chevy cars and stock cars on display with MLB Speedway Classic themes. The most popular car by far, with thousands of social media shares, was the Dale Earnhardt Jr. No. 8 Budweiser MLB Speedway Classic themed Chevy Late Model Stock Car. Earnhardt Jr. will race that car on August 16 at Anderson Motor Speedway in South Carolina.
To lead off the pre-game, Braves and Reds players jumped in the back of Chevy Silverado pickup trucks (2 per truck) and rode around the track to wave at the fans with Club and Speedway Classic flags planted in the back of the trucks, NASCAR style.
During player introductions, pit crews from Trackhouse Racing wore custom MLB Speedway Classic firesuits and custom painted helmets while they changed tires as players came into the stadium surrounded by smoke and fire. Each player’s jersey number was displayed on a large pit board hanging over the field during player introductions. In the NASCAR world those numbered boards are used to guide racecars into their correct pit stalls during a race.
Fans were surprised and thrilled when NASCAR special guests Chase Elliott and Kyle Busch arrived from Iowa for pre-game ceremonies. The duo assisted first pitch honorees Chipper Jones and Johnny Bench with their duties. Elliott and Busch entered the field in a custom-built bullpen cart that was shaped like a NASCAR helmet. Several other NASCAR drivers attended the game on Saturday night, including Ty Dillon, Aric Almirola and Corey LaJoie.
NASCAR ambassador and FOX NASCAR analyst Michael Waltrip helped with the beginning of the game, which was broadcast by FOX. Waltrip gave a traditional NASCAR command patented by his older brother Darrell, Bristol’s winningest driver with 12 victories, by shouting “Boogity, Boogity, Boogity, let’s play ball boys!” Meanwhile, mascots for both teams waved the green flag at the start of the game.
The Speedway Classic featured numerous NASCAR game presentation elements during inning breaks. One of the most popular was “Fast Pass” where guests seated in the Yarborough sections were required to team up to pass along giant cardboard cutouts of a Braves car and a Reds car. The race began at section Y-A and finished at section Y-F. As the cardboard cutouts surfed along the fans appearing to race side-by-side to the finish. Before the start of the ninth inning, mascots for both teams waved Speedway Classic-branded white flags to acknowledge players were starting the “final lap” of the game.
In both the third and seventh innings the popular Reds souvenir launcher, Redzilla, drove out on to the track and shot souvenir foam baseballs to the crowd high into the grandstands.
Throughout the game there were some special NASCAR surprises for the fans, including after each home run a Speedway Classic-wrapped Corvette sped around the track waving a Home Run Flag out the window. Fans loved the car and it went viral on social media after both of Eli White’s home runs.
Other racing flags were used: the checkered flag was driven around the field by the Corvette with the Atlanta Braves win song once the game was concluded; and unfortunately, the NASCAR red flag, which signals a major delay, was used during the rain delay on Saturday.
Finally, there was a special MLB Speedway Classic trophy presentation for the winning Atlanta Braves Club which was accepted by game MVP Eli White.
Speaking of NASCAR, Bristol Motor Speedway will now switch gears to host the Bass Pro Shops Night Race weekend, September 11-13. In addition to the Cup Series Playoff race, the weekend also will feature Playoff races with the Food City 300 Xfinity Series race and the UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics Craftsman Truck Series race. A Thursday night doubleheader will pair the trucks with the ARCA Menards Series for the Bush's Beans 200. The pre-race concert will be performed by Grand Ole Opry member Chris Janson. For more information, and to purchase tickets please visit the BMS website, or call the BMS Ticket Sales Center at 866-415-4158.
