Bristol Speedway: From MLB to NASCAR, the Accelerated Transformation

As soon as the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds cleared the baseball diamond inside the field at Bristol Motor Speedway, a new clock began to run. The “Last Great Colosseum” must move the venue of the MLB Speedway Classic and be ready for NASCAR’s return to the historic racetrack for a playoff race on September 13th. 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 return to its racing roots.

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

Bristol Speedway: From MLB to NASCAR, the Accelerated Transformation — Después de transformarse en un campo de béisbol para un juego entre los Braves y los Reds, Bristol Motor Speedway debe volver a su estado normal a tiempo para una carrera de NASCAR el 13 de septiembre. Earl Neikirk/Bristol Motor Speedway vía AP

Major League Baseball used BaAM to create everything from the locker rooms for the Braves and Reds, complete with showers, fitness rooms, coaches’ and trainers’ offices, and batting cages. They built grandstands along both baselines with broadcast booths. The pit walls were removed and must now 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 to cure properly.

As soon as the last release is launched, the last hit is hit, 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, Senior Vice President of Speedway Motorsports Operations

Part of the gravel will be used in Bristol 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 in terms of reconstruction. We just need to get rid of it so we can put asphalt and concrete back.
Steve Swift, Senior Vice President of Operations at Speedway Motorsports

This new renovation program 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 come in, but we will definitely aim for (September 7th).
Steve Swift, Senior Vice President of Speedway Motorsports Operations

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 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, Senior Vice President of Speedway Motorsports