Bristol Motor Speedway, also billed as "Thunder Valley," is known for its speed.
On Aug. 2, there will be plenty of thunder and speed on display when the Braves and Reds duel in the 2025 MLB Speedway Classic at the famed 64-year-old racetrack. And leading up to the first pitch, country music icon Tim McGraw will get the party started with a concert from inside the historic venue.
Here is what you need to know about this one-of-a-kind event.
When is the game, and how can I watch it?
The 2025 MLB Speedway Classic will take place on Aug. 2, 2025. First pitch between the Braves and Reds is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast nationally on FOX.
How can I get tickets to the game?
Tickets for the MLB Speedway Classic are on sale now through Ticketmaster, starting at just $50 (plus sales tax & fees). There are also a limited number of premium seats available on the Bristol Motor Speedway infield that put you right next to the diamond.
Demand is high to be a part of what promises to be MLB's largest crowd of the season.
Is this a regular-season game?
Yes, and the Reds will be the home team. The MLB Speedway Classic will follow games between the Braves and Reds in Cincinnati on Thursday, July 31, and Friday, Aug. 1. Sunday will be held as an off-day for both teams, acting as a buffer in case of inclement weather.
What other events are planned in conjunction with the game?
Bristol, a border city divided by the Tennessee and Virginia state lines, is known as the ¡°birthplace of country music." In celebration of those roots, Grammy Award-winning artist Tim McGraw will headline a special pregame concert leading into the MLB Speedway Classic.
The concert will start approximately one hour before the first pitch and will include special guest artists and longtime collaborators with McGraw. FOX plans to feature portions of the special performance during their pregame event coverage.
McGraw is a natural fit for this event because of his status as a country music legend as well as his personal connection to baseball. Tim's father, Tug McGraw, pitched for the Mets and Phillies during a 19-year MLB career and won World Series rings with both clubs.
What is the significance of Bristol Motor Speedway?
BMS has become an iconic racing venue since opening in 1961. Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, the speedway's half-mile track and high-banked turns have created some of the most thrilling, pulse-pounding moments in racing. Known as "the world's fastest half-mile," Bristol Motor Speedway hosts two NASCAR Cup Series events each year, including a night race that has been an annual tradition since 1978.
What are the field dimensions?
For the MLB Speedway Classic, a baseball diamond will be built across the track and infield of the speedway, primarily situated between Turns 3 and 4 of the track. The dimensions will be 330 feet down each of the foul lines, 400 feet to center field, 375 feet to the right-field alley and 384 feet to the left-field alley.
Is there anything else fans should know?
- This will be the first regular-season game in National League/American League history played in Tennessee.
- The MLB Speedway Classic will represent a homecoming of sorts for a player on each team. Braves All-Star third baseman Austin Riley was born in Memphis, and Reds reliever Sam Moll is a native of Lakeland, Tenn.
- Tennessee is home to four current Minor League teams: the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds), Triple-A Nashville Sounds (Brewers), Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals) and Double-A Tennessee Smokies (Cubs).