Chase Burns, Cincinnati Reds pitcher to pitch at Bristol Motor Speeway

Bristol Motor Speedway Set to Host the 2025 MLB Speedway Classic

James Pompey

Buckle your seatbelts and hold on tight because we’re not talking left turns or checkered flags this time. The Bristol Motor Speedway, known as the “Last Great Coliseum” of NASCAR, is swapping burning rubber for baseballs, hosting the highly anticipated 2025 MLB Speedway Classic. Yes, you heard that right—not your typical Sunday drive.

This Saturday night, two pitchers with Knoxville ties will take center stage (or mound, if you will) in what promises to be a showdown as unique as the location of Bristol Motor Speedway. The Braves and Reds will trade fastballs and sliders under the Tennessee sky in front of what’s expected to be a sellout crowd craving peanuts, Cracker Jacks, and maybe a funnel cake or two.

Knoxville’s Finest Taking the Mound

Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves pitcher to take the mound at Bristol Motor Speedway
Jul 23, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider (99) pitches against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

The Reds are putting their trust in Chase Burns, the former Tennessee Volunteer with a cannon for an arm. A Knoxville kid turned MLB draft sensation, Burns was picked second overall just last year, and he’s already making waves in Cincinnati. While his MLB record sits at a shaky 0-3, don’t underestimate him. Burns has the kind of stuff that makes hitters swing at shadows, and he’s poised to deliver something special when he steps onto that makeshift mound at Bristol.

If Burns seems familiar, it might be because he’s part of a growing list of pros from Tony Vitello’s Tennessee baseball program who’ve climbed the ranks into the majors (remember names like Garrett Crochet, Jordan Beck, and Chase Dollander? Yeah, Tennessee’s kind of a thing now). For Burns, Saturday offers a shot at redemption, and what better stage than this one-of-a-kind baseball experiment at Bristol Motor Speedway?

On the opposite side, we’ve got Spencer Strider of the Atlanta Braves. A Knoxville native who sharpened his skills at Clemson, Strider’s the kind of pitcher who will bring the heat and leave a trail of broken bats in his wake. He’s gone 5-8 this season and faced his fair share of ups and downs, but if there’s one thing folks know about Strider, it’s that he always shows up for a big occasion. Chalk this one up as exactly that.

Baseball Meets NASCAR? Only in Bristol

If the setting for this game sounds strange, that’s because it is. But strange doesn’t mean bad. Bristol Motor Speedway has hosted everything from country concerts to colossal football matchups (remember the Battle at Bristol?), so why not a baseball game? The infield’s being converted into a diamond for the night, bringing America’s pastime to one of its most adrenaline-soaked arenas. Imagine it now: the crack of the bat competing with echoes that typically belong to roaring engines. Sightlines might be unconventional, but the buzz surrounding this event suggests fans are all in.

For Knoxville locals and diehard baseball lovers, this one’s for the books. It’s rare enough to see two Knoxville-connected pitchers face off in the majors, but placing them at a venue as iconic as Bristol Motor Speedway? That’s the extra mustard on this hot dog of a matchup.

What to Watch For

  • Burns vs. Strider: Two Knoxville-linked pitchers going head-to-head isn’t just a cool story; it’s a clash of styles. Burns brings that youthful flair and fiery fastball; Strider counters with experience and a knack for location.
  • The Atmosphere: Let’s face it, how often do you see baseball in a NASCAR coliseum? Bristol Motor Speedway’s backdrop is guaranteed to add a layer of drama to those high heaters and towering fly balls.
  • Fans, Meet History: Bristol Motor Speedway will etch its name as one of the very few racetracks to moonlight as a ballpark. Love it or hate it, this experiment is dripping with history-in-the-making vibes.

Grab Some Popcorn (and Maybe a Helmet)

Whether you’re Team Burns or rooting for Strider to remind us why Atlanta made him their guy, one thing’s certain: the 2025 MLB Speedway Classic is shaping up to be a spectacle unlike any other. Baseball purists might scoff at the venue, but those of us with a sense of humor and an appetite for something new are ready to take this curveball and run with it.

Game time is 7:15 PM EDT, televised live on FOX. And if you’re lucky enough to snag a ticket, just make sure you don’t get distracted by memories of Chase Elliott or Kyle Larson tearing up the place.

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