The first word that comes to mind is spectacle.
Spectacle. That’s what it was. A VERY wet spectacle, but one nevertheless.
It was Major League Baseball, for sure. But it was much more than that.
The Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds played in a most unusual setting Saturday night. A crew that had been working for weeks planted a major league quality baseball field in the infield between the turns at Bristol Motor Speedway. Some of the best players in the land – minus Braves’ superstar Ronald Acuna Jr., who is injured—pitched, hit and ran as if everything was normal, as if it was just another baseball game in a long season.
Inside the baseball lines, that was largely true. Otherwise on a damp, rainy night in eastern Tennessee, everything was different. Often wackily different, in a thing they called the Speedway Classic.
The field’s measurements were major league standards—330 feet to left and right, 400 to deep center. But measurements also were made beyond the baseball field fences across the concrete surface of the race track and to its walls. Those numbers were 444 to right and 581 to center and 458 to left. Tall order to blast one out in those neighborhoods.
As has happened at this NASCAR landmark facility more than once (it has hosted professional football and college football, for sports’ sake), the speedway and its partner, Major League Baseball, transformed one thing into another with expertise. The field, despite being carpeted with synthetic turf (a necessity in this case), was immaculate, with dark green and light green stripes crossing the heart of the infield and the outfield. The batter’s box area was decorated with the track’s slogan, “It’s Bristol, baby!” and checkered flag patterns.
Temporary clubhouses and meeting areas for the teams were part of the construct, as were dugouts and foul poles.
There also were rain tarps, which, unfortunately, were called into use as showers—and later heavy rain—pelted the track several times. Apparently, someone thought NASCAR, which has seen more than its share of weather issues, was in town.
The game started at 9:41 p.m., two hours and 17 minutes late because of the weather. The first pitch was thrown with rain falling.
The rain intensified and, after one inning with the Reds leading 1-0, the game was suspended until Sunday afternoon.
Before the weather ruined what should have been a dazzling evening, players and personnel from both teams praised the Bristol setup.
“I think Major League Baseball does a great job at this,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “It can’t be easy to throw something like this together. It’s a big event, a big deal.”
About half of the speedway’s 150,000 seats were available for sale, and organizers expected a crowd of 85,000, a record for a major league regular season game. It was clear from a casual stroll through the grandstands that most in attendance were primarily baseball fans. Reds and Braves T-shirts and caps were everywhere, and fans wore jerseys honoring their favorite players: Jones (Chipper), Bench (Johnny), Rose (Pete) and Aaron (Hank).
Here and there, someone had a mixed wardrobe. Betty Shelton, who had driven in from Louisville, Kentucky, wore a Chase Elliott T-shirt and a Braves cap, which seemed mostly logical since Elliott is a Braves fan. “Historic,” Shelton said of the game. “If you’re a baseball or NASCAR fan within driving distance, this was the place to be.”
For those who arrived without appropriate attire, merchants were happy to help. Game shirts were available for $35 and up. You could get an Acuna jersey for $220.
Baseball royalty was present. Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Chipper Jones were on hand to participate in the opening-pitch ceremonies along with NASCAR drivers Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott, who made a pit stop from racing activities at Iowa Speedway.
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