MLB Speedway Classic

The MLB Speedway Classic, also known as the MLB Speedway Classic '25, was a Major League Baseball (MLB) specialty game between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds, which began on August 2, 2025, and continued on the weekend's rain date of August 3, 2025, due to continuing showers and poor field conditions on its original date. The Braves defeated the Reds, 4–2.^[3] The game was played in the infield of Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee, the home of a 146,000-seat NASCAR racetrack. This was the first regular-season National League or American League game played in the state of Tennessee.^[4][5]

MLB Speedway Classic '25

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Atlanta Braves 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 10 0 Cincinnati Reds 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 10 0
Date	August 2–3, 2025[a]
Venue	Bristol Motor Speedway
City	Bristol, Tennessee
Managers	Brian Snitker (Atlanta Braves) Terry Francona (Cincinnati Reds)
Umpires	HP: Will Little 1B: Ryan Additon 2B: Junior Valentine 3B: Lance Barksdale[b]
Attendance	91,032
Time of game	9:40 PM EDT (Aug 2)[c] 1:00 PM EDT (Aug 3)
Ceremonial first pitch	Chipper Jones, Kyle Busch[d]
Television	Fox
TV announcers	Joe Davis (play-by-play) John Smoltz (analyst) Ken Rosenthal (reporter) Tom Verducci (reporter)

An attendance of 91,032 set a new all-time regular-season game attendance record, exceeded only by the attendance of 115,300 at a preseason game between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on March 29, 2008.^[6]

Background

Game background

The field shortly before the first pitch of the MLB Speedway Classic '25

On August 6, 2024, reports surfaced that the Braves and Reds would play a game at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2025. Three days later, on August 9, MLB revealed the game would be happening, under the name, Speedway Classic '25.^[7][8]

Construction & field dimensions

Bristol Motor Speedway map

The field dimensions for the MLB Speedway Classic were 330 feet down each of the foul lines, 400 feet to center field, 375 feet to the right-field alley, and 384 feet to the left-field alley. The diamond was built across the track and infield of the speedway, primarily situated between Turns 3 and 4 of the track (south west section of the speedway). Turns 1 and 2 would have a stage for the pregame concert.^[9] In late June 2025, construction started for the conversion of Bristol Motor Speedway. The field was announced to be AstroTurf-provided artificial turf surface with a traditional dirt infield on June 25, due to the asphalt and concrete surface of its footprint providing a poor bed for natural grass, and to allow the turf to be re-used for other purposes after the game.^[10]

Pregame concert

Like previous MLB Specialty Games, Bristol Motor Speedway hosted a pregame concert. Bristol is a border city divided by the Tennessee and Virginia state lines, and is known as the "birthplace of country music." In celebration of those roots, Grammy Award-winning artist Tim McGraw would headline a special pregame concert leading into the MLB Speedway Classic. The concert will also include Grammy-winning artist Pitbull, and Jake Owen.^[11] The concert started approximately one hour before the first pitch and Fox featured portions of the performance during its pregame event coverage.^[12]

Fan zone

Along with the concert, there was also a fan zone outside of the stadium that features a full day of live music including Owen, Timothy Wayne, Reyna Roberts, and Adam Doleac. There were also interactive games, a 110-foot Ferris wheel, batting cages, pitching tunnels, regional food, exhibits, and photo opportunities.^[13]

Uniforms

In early July, reports surfaced that the Braves jerseys were navy with gray pants, and featured an italicized font for the numbers on the back of the jerseys. There was also a sleeve patch that had the MLB Speedway Classic '25 logo on it.^[14] On July 21, MLB released the uniform concepts for both teams, with the Braves having a navy hat with red flames on the brim. The Reds wore their white uniforms also with the italicized numbers on the front and back of their jerseys, and with their red hat with a black brim with a checkerboard pattern.^[15]

Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson revealed his catcher's gear for the game, which was influenced by Ricky Bobby from the 2006 movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby with a Wonder Bread style design.^[16]

Umpires

On July 31, Major League Baseball Umpire Crew I was assigned for the Speedway Classic series. Johnson City, TN native Will Little worked behind the plate calling balls and strikes, while Ryan Additon was the first base umpire. Ryan Willis was replaced by Tennessee native Junior Valentine at second base for the game, and crew chief Lance Barksdale oversaw third base. Little grew up less than 20 miles away from Bristol Motor Speedway, and the Speedway Classic would be a homecoming for him.^[17]

Rosters

Atlanta Braves Roster
Starting Pitchers 22 Erick Fedde 33 Joey Wentz 59 Carlos Carrasco 55 Bryce Elder 99 Spencer Strider		Bullpen 26 Raisel Iglesias 38 Pierce Johnson 45 Tyler Kinley 46 Dylan Dodd 49 Aaron Bummer 52 Dylan Lee 62 Daysbel Hernández 64 Hurston Waldrep [e] 68 Austin Cox		Catchers  9 Sandy León 12 Sean Murphy 30 Drake Baldwin Infielders  1 Ozzie Albies  2 Nick Allen 19 Jonathan Ornelas [f] 27 Austin Riley 28 Matt Olson 37 Luke Williams		Outfielders  7 Jurickson Profar 23 Michael Harris II 24 Jarred Kelenic 36 Eli White Designated Hitters 20 Marcell Ozuna		Manager 43 Brian Snitker Coaches 85 Erick Abreu (bullpen) 86 Fredi González (third base) 88 Tom Goodwin (first base) 80 Tim Hyers (hitting) 10 Chipper Jones (hitting consultant) 39 Rick Kranitz (pitching) 83 Carlos Méndez (assistant hitting) 95 Eddie Pérez (assistant) 82 Hugh Quattlebaum (assistant hitting)  4 Walt Weiss (bench) 96 José Yepez (bullpen catcher)

Cincinnati Reds Roster
Starting Pitchers 26 Chase Burns 28 Nick Martinez 40 Nick Lodolo 41 Andrew Abbott 51 Brady Singer 52 Zack Littell		Bullpen 12 Lyon Richardson [g] 15 Emilio Pagán 23 Graham Ashcraft 31 Brent Suter 50 Sam Moll 58 Scott Barlow 62 Luis Mey 64 Tony Santillan		Catchers 35 Jose Trevino 37 Tyler Stephenson Infielders  3 Ke'Bryan Hayes  4 Santiago Espinal  7 Spencer Steer  9 Matt McLain 16 Noelvi Marte 38 Miguel Andújar 44 Elly De La Cruz		Outfielders  2 Gavin Lux 12 Austin Hays 27 Jake Fraley 29 TJ Friedl 30 Will Benson [h]		Manager 77 Terry Francona Coaches 92 Kyle Arnsberg (assistant coach) 45 Freddie Benavides (bench coach/field coordinator) 54 Collin Cowgill (first base) 91 Jose Duarte (bullpen catcher) 56 J. R. House (third base/catching) 36 Derek Johnson (director of pitching) 95 James Keller (bullpen catcher) 96 Simon Mathews (assistant pitching) 73 Brad Mills (bench coach) 75 Mike Napoli (staff assistant) 93 Alex Pelaez (assistant hitting) 94 Will Remillard (assistant hitting) 90 Matt Tracy (bullpen) 76 Chris Valaika (hitting)

Game

Scheduling

The game was the first regular season MLB game in the state of Tennessee, and the first MLB game played on a race track. The game was on the first Saturday of August, and was the finale of a three-game series with the first two games being played at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.^[18]

Lineups

No. Player Pos. Atlanta 7 Jurickson Profar LF 28 Matt Olson 1B 27 Austin Riley 3B 30 Drake Baldwin DH 12 Sean Murphy C 23 Michael Harris II CF 1 Ozzie Albies 2B 36 Eli White RF 2 Nick Allen SS Starting pitcher 99 66 Spencer Strider Austin Cox References:[19]

No. Player Pos. Cincinnati 29 TJ Friedl CF 9 Matt McLain 2B 44 Elly De La Cruz SS 12 Austin Hays DH 2 38 Gavin Lux Miguel Andújar LF 16 Noelvi Marte RF 7 Spencer Steer 1B 37 Tyler Stephenson C 3 Ke'Bryan Hayes 3B Starting pitcher 26 Chase Burns References:[20]

Recap

During the days leading up to the special event, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred revealed a plan to push the game back to August 3rd if the game were to be deemed unplayable due to inclement weather on August 2nd. Spencer Strider of Atlanta and Chase Burns of Cincinnati, both Tennessee natives, were supposed to start the game for their respective ball clubs for the Speedway Classic. During the pregame, the players rode around in Chevrolet pickup trucks as Pitbull and Tim McGraw performed songs including "I Like It, I Love It" during the pregame concert. The players then entered through the outfield for their team introductions, and just after warming up, the grounds crew rolled the tarp out onto the field. Heavy downpours persisted, and following a two hour, 25 minute rain delay, Austin Cox replaced Strider as the Braves starter at the 9:40 p.m. first pitch.^[21]

A United States Navy color guard on the field pregame on August 2

August 2nd: During the first pitch by Chase Burns, it was still lightly raining as he struck out Jurickson Profar and Austin Riley for a 1-2-3 inning. In the bottom of the first, Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz both reached on infield singles with showers dumping onto the infield. Austin Hays singled to left and drove home McLain, giving the Reds an early 1–0 lead. Water began to pool on the infield during the bottom of the first inning which caused the umpires to suspend the game after four batters in the bottom of the first. Only 16 minutes into the game, the grounds-keeping crew tried to dry out and remove puddles of water by pouring clay and raking the infield, then tarped the field. At 10:25 p.m., it was announced that the game was suspended and would resume the following day at 1 p.m.^[22]

August 3rd: On August 3rd, at 1 p.m. EDT, during the resumption of the bottom of the first, De La Cruz immediately stole third base off of pitcher Hurston Waldrep who drove five hours before the game from AAA Gwinnett after getting recalled. Miguel Andujar then hit a ball to third, and Riley ran De La Cruz down to tag him out at home. The Braves answered in the top of the second with singles from Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies, which led to a 3-run home run by Eli White, giving the Braves a 3–1 lead. In the bottom of the 2nd, with the bases loaded, McClain hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Tyler Stephenson to cut the deficit to 3–2. After dominant outings by Waldrep, Luis Mey, and Sam Moll, Scott Barlow was chosen to pitch the 7th inning for the Reds, and gave up a solo-home run to White for his second home run of the game. In the bottom of the 9th inning with a 4–2 lead, Raisel Iglesias came into close the game. After two singles given up to TJ Friedl and McClain, Iglesias retired the side by striking out De La Cruz, fouling out Hayes, and popping pinch hitter Jake Fraley to get the save, and the Speedway Classic trophy.

Line score

The tarp on the field during a rain delay at the MLB Speedway Classic '25

Infield soaking wet during the bottom of the first at the MLB Speedway Classic '25

August 2–3, 2025 9:40 p.m. (Aug 2)-1:00 p.m. (Aug 3) EDT^[i] at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta Braves	0	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	4	10	0
Cincinnati Reds	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	10	0
Starting pitchers: Atlanta: Austin Cox Cincinnati: Chase Burns WP: Hurston Waldrep (1–0)   LP: Brent Suter (1–2)   Sv: Raisel Iglesias (14) Home runs: Atlanta: Eli White 2(6) Cincinnati: None Attendance: 91,032   Time: 2:41 Umpires: HP – Will Little; 1B – Ryan Additon; 2B – Junior Valentine; 3B – Lance Barksdale; Replay Official – Ryan Willis Boxscore

Box score

Batting

Braves	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	OPS
Jurickson Profar, LF	5	0	2	0	0	2	.680
Matt Olson, 1B	4	0	0	0	0	1	.813
Austin Riley, 3B	1	0	0	0	0	1	.737
Luke Williams, PH–3B	3	0	0	0	0	1	.348
Drake Baldwin, DH	4	0	2	0	0	1	.814
Sean Murphy, C	4	0	0	0	0	1	.807
Michael Harris II, CF	4	1	2	0	0	1	.636
Ozzie Albies, 2B	4	1	1	0	0	1	.638
Eli White, RF	4	2	2	4	0	1	.700
Nick Allen, 2B	3	0	1	0	1	1	.556

Reds	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	OPS
TJ Friedl, CF	4	0	2	0	1	1	.773
Matt McLain, 2B	4	1	2	1	0	1	.651
Elly De La Cruz, SS	5	0	1	0	0	1	.843
Austin Hays, DH	5	0	1	1	0	1	.808
Miguel Andujar, LF	2	0	0	0	0	1	.758
Gavin Lux, PH–LF	1	0	1	0	0	0	.735
Santiago Espinal, PH–LF	1	0	0	0	0	1	.601
Jake Fraley, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	.756
Noelvi Marte, RF	4	0	1	0	0	1	.802
Spencer Steer, 1B	3	0	0	0	1	0	.693
Tyler Stephenson, C	2	1	0	0	2	0	.727
Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B	4	0	2	0	0	0	.575

Pitching

Braves	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Austin Cox	0.1	3	1	1	0	1	0	3.24
Hurston Waldrep (W)	5.2	3	1	1	2	4	0	1.59
Pierce Johnson (H)	0.2	1	0	0	0	0	0	2.41
Dylan Lee (H)	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	3.10
Tyler Kinley (H)	0.1	0	0	0	2	0	0	5.51
Raisel Iglesias (S)	1	2	0	0	0	1	0	5.51

Reds	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Chase Burns	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	6.04
Brent Suter (L)	2.2	4	3	3	0	2	1	3.38
Luis Mey	1.1	2	0	0	0	2	0	3.78
Sam Moll	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	8.10
Scott Barlow	1	2	1	1	0	1	1	3.91
Lyon Richardson	2	1	0	0	1	3	0	3.93

See also

• List of neutral site regular season Major League Baseball games played in the United States and Canada
• Battle at Bristol, a college football game held at the same venue.

Notes

1. Events in a suspended game are considered (with regards to baseball statistics) to have occurred on the original game date.
2. Crew chief^[1]
3. Originally scheduled for 7:15 PM EDT
4. Jones' pitch was caught by Chase Elliott, while Busch's pitch was caught by Johnny Bench.^[2]
5. Recalled from AAA Gwinnett in between the August 2nd and 3rd game.
6. Optioned to AAA Gwinnett after the August 2nd rainout.
7. Recalled from AAA Louisville in between the August 2nd and 3rd game.
8. Optioned to AAA Louisville after the August 2nd rainout.
9. The game was originally scheduled for 7:15, but was delayed for 2 hours and 25 minutes and subsequently suspended to the next day at 1:00 p.m. due to weather in the Bristol area.