Bristol Motor Speedway: From MLB to NASCAR, a Race Against Time

BRISTOL, Tenn. – As soon as the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds cleared the baseball diamond inside the infield at Bristol Motor Speedway, a new clock began to run. The “Last Great Colosseum” must move the MLB Speedway Classic and be ready for NASCAR’s return to the historic racetrack for a playoff race on September 13. The first MLB regular season game in the state of Tennessee set a record with a paid attendance of 91,032 people, but now it must go back to its roots in racing.

It’s difficult, but they are things we like. It gives us a challenge and we like challenges.

Steve Swift, Senior Vice President of Speedway Motorsports Operations

Major League Baseball used BaAM to create everything from the locker rooms for the Braves and Reds, complete with showers, strength and conditioning training rooms, coaches’ and trainers’ offices, and batting cages. They built stands along both baselines with broadcast booths. The pit walls were torn down and now must be rebuilt. The transformation into a baseball diamond on the field required 17,500 tons of gravel to level the field, then 340 tons of Pennsylvania clay for the playing surface. Swift said that pouring concrete walls takes time, and then more time for it to cure properly.

As soon as the final release is launched, the final hit is connected, the teams do their thing, take care of the post-game, the pads will begin to be removed from the wall, and they will work all night to basically start dismantling so that we can reassemble for the NASCAR race.

Steve Swift

Part of the gravel will be used in Bristol’s parking lots. Swift said they have found groups to help use some of the materials to help people who are still recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Helene. That includes 2x4s and plywood used for the bleachers.

Many things are going to be put to good use with regard to the reconstruction. We just need to get it out of the way so we can put asphalt and concrete back.

Steve Swift

This new renewal calendar has a couple of days built in for protection. The target date for completion is September 7th.

There may still be some paint drying when the Goodyear transporters arrive, but we will definitely aim for (September 7th).

Steve Swift

Bristol hosted a college football game in 2016 that drew 156,990 people. Now the NHL could be in Bristol’s future after Sportico reported on Friday that league officials would be reviewing how the racetrack handled Major League Baseball.

We have shown with soccer and now baseball that things can take place and we can do things that no one would even think of.

Steve Swift