• Loading stock data...
Saturday, August 23, 2025
The biggest names in sports media. All in one room. Buy tickets now!

Bristol Rain Pushes MLB’s Ambitious Speedway Game to Sunday

Three years of planning and a growing buildup in recent weeks for the MLB Speedway Classic fell victim to steady rain.

The Knoxville News-Sentinel

BRISTOL, Tenn. — The most ambitious special-event game in MLB history turned into rain-soaked disappointment. 

Three years of planning and a growing buildup in recent weeks for the MLB Speedway Classic  between the Braves and Reds fell victim to steady rain that stalled around Bristol Motor Speedway, with the Saturday night primetime showcase moved to Sunday afternoon. 

After a pregame delay on Saturday night lasting two hours and 17 minutes, just one and a third innings of the game between the Braves and Reds were played before resurgent rain forced the grounds crew to recover the field. At that point, many of the more than 85,000 fans that came out for the large-scale event headed for the exits, and the official postponement soon followed at around 10:30 p.m. ET.

The unique game, in which MLB constructed a regulation baseball field inside the massive motorsports venue, will be replayed on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. It’s likely, though, that there will be fewer attending fans and less overall energy.

“We are optimistic for a better weather forecast for [Sunday],” MLB SVP of on-field operations Michael Hill said on the Fox Sports broadcast.

The game had been projected to be the league’s most-attended game ever in the regular season. Ticket buyers had come from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Washington, D.C., and nine other countries on four continents. 

There were also roster effects, as rain delays led the Braves to scratch scheduled starter Spencer Strider, and the Reds will need to reshuffle their rotation, too, after their starting pitcher, Chase Burns, threw just an inning. 

During the lengthy rain delays, Fox Sports also was forced to fill time, and studio crew member Derek Jeter helped do so with a stinking rebuke of the Yankees, his former team, after two ugly losses to the Marlins.

“They make way too many mistakes. Way too many mistakes,” Jeter said about the Yankees on-air. “And you can’t get away with making that number of mistakes against great teams. It doesn’t happen … You have to clean it up. I mean, it’s that simple. There’s no excuses. You have to play better. If you don’t play better, you’re not going to go very far.”

Earlier Build-Up

Before the rain intensified on Saturday, pregame festivities contributed to the rising anticipation for the event. 

Players were introduced similarly to how NASCAR drivers are at races, team-themed stock cars had their tires changed during the pre-game ceremony, and Braves and Reds uniforms featured extensive racing iconography. Baseball Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Chipper Jones participated in first-pitch ceremonies with NASCAR drivers Chase Elliott and Kyle Busch. 

MLB and Bristol Motor Speedway also developed an extensive fan festival, capped with a pregame concert from country music star Tim McGraw, son of former MLB pitcher Tug McGraw. Ultimately, that would prove to be the peak of Saturday’s events as the rain intensified.  

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Samuel Basallo

Orioles Give Catcher Record Extension Amid Adley Rutschman’s Stunning Fall

Samuel Basallo’s reported $67M deal would be a record for pre-arbitration catchers.

$2B A’s Vegas Stadium Hits Milestones, on Track for 2028

Construction progress and costs pick up in the Las Vegas project.
Mo Vaughn

How Michael Bloomberg Jump-Started Mo Vaughn’s Business Career

The Red Sox legend had a sprawling housing empire before starting a podcast.
Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announces the pick for the Athletics pick during the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy.

MLB Confident New Rights Will Exceed $550M ESPN Deal

MLB would redistribute rights forfeited by ESPN back in February.

Featured Today

Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up as the Texas Longhorns prepare to play the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoffs at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.

Schools Are Hesitant to Allow PE Into Their Athletic Departments

Regardless of budget, schools don’t believe the risk is worth the reward.
Oct 2, 2024; Rosemont, IL, USA; Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti speaks with the media during the 2024 Big Ten Women’s Basketball media day at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
August 22, 2025

‘Not Ready to Jump In’: Power 4 Commissioners Aren’t Sold on PE

Top leaders in college sports have yet to see a satisfactory proposal.
Nov 23, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin looks at quarterback Drew Allar (15) during the first quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium.
August 22, 2025

Private Equity Enters College Sports—Without the Equity

As college football starts, lending agreements have become PE’s best way in.
Sep 8, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants running back Eric Gray (20) returns a kickoff against the Minnesota Vikings during the first half at MetLife Stadium.
August 18, 2025

‘Fauxbacks’ Throw Back to a Retro Uniform That Never Existed

Many throwback jerseys are brand-new designs or “Franken-Unis.”

Premier League Sets New Highs: $3.2B Spent, Record U.S. Viewership

The league’s transfer spending beats the rest of Europe’s Big Five combined.
August 20, 2025

US Open’s Controversial New Mixed Doubles Format Makes Waves

The first-place prize money for the winning duo climbed from $200,000 to $1 million.
Aug 5, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) looks to drive past New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud (9) in the third quarter at Barclays Center.
August 21, 2025

Man Arrested for Throwing Dildo at Liberty Game

After police released his photo, the man turned himself in.
Sponsored

Building A Pro League From Scratch

Front Office Sports and Gainbridge® spotlight what it takes to build a professional women’s soccer league.
August 20, 2025

PGA Tour Turning to Theo Epstein, Tiger Woods to Reshape Pro Golf

A new Future Competition Committee was announced Wednesday.
Palestinian flags
exclusive
August 19, 2025

MLS Says Columbus Crew Fans Can Fly Palestinian Flag After Two-Year Ban

MLS has banned Israeli and Palestinian flags since October 2023.
Aug 1, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) signs autographs for fans before the game against the Indiana Fever at the American Airlines Center.
August 19, 2025

WNBA Breaks Regular-Season Attendance Record With a Month Left

The current WNBA season ends Sept. 11.
August 19, 2025

PGA Tour Will Return to Trump Doral for New $20M Signature Event

Doral last hosted a PGA Tour event in 2016.