The MLB Just Had a Classic NASCAR Experience, Speedway Classic Rained Out Until Sunday
The MLB got more of the NASCAR experience than it bargained for when heavy rain in Bristol, Tennessee culminated in a late start of the Speedway Classic Saturday, and finally a complete rainout with the game set to resume at 1:00 PM EST on Sunday. The Reds lead the Braves 1-0.
In 2024, more than half of the weekends that NASCAR raced were affected by rain, starting with the Daytona 500 being rained out until Monday. Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass pointed out in a post on X that this rain delay comes in a NASCAR season that has defied odds, as there have been zero races in a NASCAR national series postponed to the next date nearly two-thirds of the way into the season.
There were more than 85,000 tickets sold for the game, breaking the league record of 84,587 set on September 12, 1954, when Cleveland Stadium hosted the New York Yankees, as reported by NASCAR earlier this week.
Hopefully, fans will make the trip back to Bristol on Sunday, following more than three hours of sitting in the rain while waiting to watch baseball.
The MLB on Fox booth filled the three hours of rain delay with NASCAR-related hijinks. Players were driven around Bristol Motor Speedway in the back of Chevrolet Silverados while Cincinnati Reds mascot "Mr. Red" was driven around in a Corvette.
Two NASCAR Cup Champions, Chase Elliott and Kyle Busch, flew into the game after finishing practice and qualifying at Iowa Speedway to sit with the booth, but sadly left before the little bit of baseball that was played began.
Ahead of the race, former NASCAR team owner Pitbull performed along with country music star Tim McGraw.
The starting lineup was announced for each team by NASCAR pit crews performing pit stops on cars with Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds branded liveries, with each player's number displayed on pit road signs.
The broadcast brought back the Bullpen Cart, allowing Atlanta Braves mascot Blooper to drive 13 laps around the track in a big baseball-helmet-shaped cart before reeling him in.
The game will resume on Sunday and will now be in direct competition with the NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway, starting 30 minutes before the race is set to go green.
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