The excitement of baseball in an unusual setting was marred by rain at the Bristol Motor Speedway. The expected match between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds, known as the Speedway Classic, was suspended in the first inning due to inclement weather.The game, which drew a record crowd for a regular season game in Tennessee, will resume on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.The opening ceremony, with the presence of legends like Johnny Bench and Chipper Jones, along with NASCAR drivers like Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott, kicked off the day. However, a first interruption of more than two hours preceded the definitive suspension, with the Reds leading 1-0.The rain frustrated the planned event, which merged baseball and NASCAR. Michael Hill, MLB’s vice president of operations, expressed hope for a better forecast for Sunday.Before the suspension, the weather conditions made the game difficult. A bat slipped from TJ Friedl’s hands, and a pitcher seemed to lose his balance while covering first base.The Speedway Classic is part of MLB’s strategy to bring baseball to new places. Previously, games were played at the “Field of Dreams” in Iowa and in other states.The Reds pitcher, Andrew Abbott, wore a NASCAR racing suit, showing his connection to this sport.
The day included entertainment for fans, such as a 110-foot Ferris wheel, food stalls, live music, and batting cages. Fans were also able to take photos with the Commissioner’s Trophy.Before the rain made its appearance, the players paraded in the back of pickup trucks around the track. For the presentations, the teams walked among cars decorated with the colors of Atlanta and Cincinnati.The game suspension forced the Braves to change their starting pitcher. Spencer Strider, who grew up near Knoxville, received a bigger ovation than the Reds’ Chase Burns. Finally, the Braves opted for Austin Cox.“I grew up around NASCAR,” Abbott said. “I went on eBay and found some options, and fortunately that was the one that arrived on time. I had a couple of backups. I know who Rusty Wallace is too, so I really know the history behind this.”
Andrew Abbott
“Honestly, my first thought: I can’t believe they did all this for a single game,” Braves first baseman Matt Olson said of his first visit to Bristol. “To be able to set all this up, prepare a playing surface, install the stands to have a proper view, it’s incredible.”
Matt Olson
