MLB Eyeing NASCAR’s Rabid Fanbase, Vows To Win Them Over With Special Gesture

NASCAR and Major League Baseball have long shared cultural intersections, from fan demographics in southern markets to past promotional tie-ins. One instance is that of the Arizona Diamondbacks hosting a “NASCAR Night” in 2023 featuring iRacing simulators, checkered-flag handouts, and NASCAR memorabilia for fans and attendees. Similarly, at Macon Speedway, Tony Stewart and peers organized “Night of the NASCAR Star” in the late 2000s, a charity night where drivers borrowed stock cars painted to mimic NASCAR liveried and even ran modifieds as part of a media cross-promotional spectacle. Those underlying connections set the stage for even deeper personal ties between NASCAR drivers and MLB stars.

MLB legend Chipper Jones has long been a vocal supporter of 23XI Racing and Bubba Wallace, tossing out ceremonial first pitches and appearing in NASCAR media. Likewise, NASCAR drivers Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Michael Waltrip joined forces with Yankees great Nick Swisher in New York to promote the Speedway Classic, transcending pit gate and building broader appeal. Swisher also quipped that MLB has its own “NASCARs”: Elly De La Cruz and Ronald Acuña Jr., demonstrating how both sports view each other’s stars as kindred spirits of speed and spectacle. And now, the latest culmination of their mutual respect has taken shape in something far beyond shared applause.

The four-year journey to bring baseball to the NASCAR cathedral

On August 2, 2025, the league will host the first-ever MLB game at a professional race car track, the Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee, marking not only MLB’s debut in the state but also the inaugural MLB Speedway Classic. This unique matchup will see the Atlanta Braves face off against the Cincinnati Reds in front of what is expected to be the largest regular-season crowd in MLB history. “It represents an opportunity for us to really focus in on having as many fans as possible at an event and to create a natural tie-in with another sport that is very much geared towards the same things that we’ve been driving towards the last few years — around speed, and being fast and bold,” said Jeremiah Yolkut, MLB’s senior vice president of global events.

Bristol Motor Speedway, an iconic NASCAR venue known for hosting thrilling races, is being transformed into a baseball stadium capable of holding approximately 90,000 fans. The game is already projected to break MLB’s all-time regular-season single-game attendance record, surpassing the previous mark of 84,587 set in 1954. Construction of the massive crossover event began back in May, requiring significant logistical effort. “There was even a building that had to be knocked down in order for us to actually put the baseball field on the track,” Yolkut revealed, highlighting the scale and commitment behind the project. This ambitious transformation underlines MLB’s willingness to innovate in its quest to capture a larger audience.

The MLB Speedway Classic is more than just a baseball game; it is a carefully crafted spectacle designed to appeal to both baseball loyalists and NASCAR’s passionate fan base. The league believes there is a natural crossover between the sports’ audiences, and younger fans, in particular, are drawn to experiencing games in unconventional, visually striking venues. MLB has already seen success with similar ventures, such as the nostalgic Field of Dreams games in Iowa, which brought baseball into unique, story-rich settings. Yolkut emphasized that Saturday’s game, four years in the making, is the product of extensive planning that began with initial conversations in 2021.

To bring the vision to life, MLB conducted feasibility studies, collaborated with architects, partnered with a professional turf company, worked with broadcast Fox, and brought in a concessions provider, Levy. Multiple sponsors have signed on, including title sponsor BuildSubmarines.com, underscoring the event’s commercial and cultural significance. Beyond the action on the diamond, fans will enjoy a festival-like atmosphere with a dedicated fan zone and live performances by Tim McGraw, Pitbull, and Jake Owen. This blend of sports and entertainment aims to maximize the event’s appeal across demographics.

Even for those watching from home, MLB promises an unforgettable experience. “Fans at home are also going to get some incredible visuals with the aerial shots of the stadium and the guys hitting home runs landing on a NASCAR track,” Yolkut said. “It’s going to be pretty special.” By merging two iconic American pastimes in such a bold way, MLB is making a statement about its commitment to innovation, fan engagement, and breaking attendance records while rewriting the playbook for where baseball can be played. Both fans and drivers are set to enjoy a spectacle, with the chance to spot NASCAR stars cheering on their favorite teams.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. revives emotional 2001 car for historic crossover

The record-breaking MLB Speedway Classic will be more than just a first-of-its-kind baseball game. It will also bring back a piece of motorsports history as Dale Earnhardt Jr. unveils the reincarnation of his iconic 2001 #8 Budweiser/MLB All-Star Game “Baseball Car.” The red-and-white paint scheme, complete with baseball stitching and updated with the Speedway Classic logo, mirrors the car Earnhardt Jr. drove to an emotional victory at the 2001 Pepsi 400, his first race at Daytona after the loss of his father. “The baseball car, to me, represents probably my proudest moment as a driver… when we won at Daytona in July in 2001,” Junior reflected.

The original run of the baseball car lasted just one race, but the win etched it into NASCAR lore. “It ran that one race… and everybody knows that race,” he continued, recalling the overwhelming fan support in the stands that night. Nearly 25 years later, the updated version will be displayed at Bristol before the Braves-Red matchup and then raced again by Junior in the zMAX CARS Tour on August 16. The return is also personal, as Dale Earnhardt was a huge Braves fan, making the Speedway Classic the perfect event for his throwback.

Beyond nostalgia, Earnhardt Jr. sees the event as an unprecedented fusion of NASCAR and MLB. “I think the optics of it have got to be surreal… the mix of NASCAR and baseball all at the same time… that in itself has got to be pretty cool,” he said. With more than 85,000 tickets sold, the game is set to shatter MLB’s attendance record. For Earnhardt, Bristol is the one racetrack he would always take newcomers to because of its electric atmosphere. “If I want to send somebody who’s never been to a race, and I want to make them a fan… that’s to send them to the Bristol Night Race,” he said, a level of energy he hopes the Speedway Classic can match.