Sports Icons Discuss Bristol Legends as Ballgame Venue Undergoes Transformation
Racing veteran Ricky Stenhouse Jr. gives a nod to the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves, urging them to check out a night race at Bristol Motor Speedway prior to the Speedway Classic on August 2. The track, dubbed "The Last Great Colosseum," offers an unforgettable view from the banked walls, a half-mile bullring like no other.
The Speedway Classic will be history in the making as either the Reds or Braves score a victory within the ballpark built within the Bristol Motor Speedway infield. Stenhouse enthusiasm is palpable, stating, "I'll be looking forward to watching it."
Two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip shares some advice, urging potential visitors to remember his 1990 crash - the disintegration of his car after hitting the wall - to truly appreciate the challenging nature of Bristol.
Joining Stenhouse in hyping up this exciting event are a host of stars: former Braves centerfielder Andruw Jones, 2009 World Series champ Nick Swisher, three-time All-Star Reds first baseman Sean Casey, and now MLB Network analyst, along with racing commentator Michael Waltrip.
Promoting the inaugural MLB game in Tennessee, Waltrip emphasizes the intensity created by the track's steep banking, "The banking is straight up," he explains, "It's a half-mile track full of corners, with speeds reaching 150 miles an hour. It's insane."
Stepping into a racecar at Bristol may be a daunting task, but hitting a baseball is a different story. Stenhouse jokes about forgetting to breathe while racing for the first time.
Tickets remain for the unparalleled event, boasting a pregame concert featuring Tim McGraw and Pitbull, as well as a Fan Zone outside the track that includes a 110-foot Ferris wheel, a food truck row, batting cages, pitching tunnels, and appearances by team mascots. Jerry Caldwell, president of Bristol Motor Speedway promises, "It's going to be one of those special nights that goes down in history."
Former major leaguer Sean Casey recalls the 2008 exhibition game featuring the Red Sox and Dodgers at Los Angeles Coliseum, which drew 115,300 fans. Casey believes the crossover event offers baseball fans a fresh experience and NASCAR enthusiasts a glimpse into a different world.
Upcoming baseball stars like Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz and Atlanta outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. look forward to participating in this one-of-a-kind event.
Stenhouse, who played some wiffle ball during his last visit to Bristol, can't help but imagine the opportunity to take the field alongside the MLB players. "I hit a wiffle ball over the fence," he says. "Yeah, it would be cool to get there and take the field in all at the same time."
AP Baseball Writer Ron Blum contributed to this report from New York. For more MLB news, visit https://apnews.com/hub/MLB. For auto racing coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing.
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The upcoming event at Bristol Motor Speedway promises to be historic, as it combines baseball and NASCAR, with the MLB Network reporting on the action. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., a racing veteran, urges the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves to experience a night race at the track, nicknamed "The Last Great Colosseum." Jerry Caldwell, president of Bristol Motor Speedway, also hints at the event's potential to be a memorable one.
Former major leaguer Sean Casey sees the event as an opportunity for baseball fans to enjoy a fresh experience and NASCAR enthusiasts to catch a glimpse into a different world, comparing it to the 2008 exhibition game featuring the Red Sox and Dodgers at Los Angeles Coliseum.
While Stenhouse might have hit a wiffle ball over the fence during his last visit to Bristol, he expresses his excitement at the possibility of taking the field alongside the MLB players. The event is set to feature performances by country music stars Tim McGraw and Pitbull, and promises a Fan Zone with various attractions outside the track.
