Speedway Classic noise will rival NASCAR races -- just ask the drivers

CINCINNATI – As Reds and Braves players imagine what it will be like playing in front of fans at the iconic venue of Bristol Motor Speedway, there are people who may have a pretty good idea of what they could expect.

Of course, that would be some NASCAR drivers who have competed there.

"There's no place for the noise to escape," said 2012 NASCAR Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski. "Whether it's the cheer of the crowd or the crack of the bat when it hits the ball, you're going to know it. And it accentuates. Atmospheres like that are so special. It's one of the things I love about sports. A can't-miss event."

Major League Baseball will come to Tennessee when the Reds and Braves meet in the first-ever Speedway Classic in Bristol on Aug. 2. The track, affectionately known as "The Last Great Colosseum" because of its bowl seating around a half-mile oval track, seats more than 150,000 for races.

The MLB game will not reach that capacity because of the configuration of the playing field, but it's still expected to be loud.

"I imagine it's going to be a different type of energy," said Cup Series driver Ryan Preece. "There's definitely going to be a lot of echoing. The roar of the fans. I know they play in stadiums like this all the time, but I think playing at a racetrack, and you look around and it's packed, it's going to be a whole other level."

Keselowski and Preece, who both drive for Kroger-sponsored RFK Racing, were in Cincinnati on Wednesday to promote the Speedway Classic, along with NASCAR on FOX pit reporter Jamie Little.

At Great American Ball Park before the Reds played the Marlins, Preece threw a ceremonial first pitch with Keselowski catching, while Little was tapped to deliver the game ball to the mound.

"We've never seen anything like this," Little said of the Speedway Classic. "Major League Baseball going to one of the more iconic racetracks in NASCAR. Maybe baseball fans who don't know NASCAR, they're going to show up and they're going to see so much of the history – just like here in this stadium. You'll learn a lot about NASCAR just by being there."

Little believed the event would click for fans of racing and all of baseball – not just those who back Atlanta and Cincinnati.

"Because people right now are all about the big event," Little said. "And that's what FOX is really good at, like Field of Dreams. That was such a huge success. This is another one of those. It's bringing the worlds together, and why not? It's a great experience. If you're a NASCAR fan, you might not know anything about baseball, but this is something you'll want to go see."

While Little said she had never attended a Major League game previously, Keselowski and Preece are longtime baseball fans. Keselowski, who drives the No. 6 car for RFK Racing, grew up in Detroit going to Tigers games but will watch any team.

"I love going to games," he said. "To me, it's the best live spectator sport. It's a combination of the atmosphere and the ability to watch the sport with a pace that allows you to enjoy the company of others. If you're into stats, that's something you can enjoy. It's America's pastime."

A native of Connecticut, Preece lived in divided baseball territory. His hometown of Berlin, near Hartford, is about halfway between New York and Boston and an approximate two-hour drive in either direction.

"Half my family were Yankees fans. The other half were Boston fans. We went to Yankee Stadium and went to see the Green Monster," said Preece, driver of the No. 60 car.

Because the NASCAR Cup Series will be racing in Iowa the same weekend as the Speedway Classic, neither Keselowski nor Preece will be able to see the game in person. Several former drivers are expected to be in attendance in Bristol, and both MLB and NASCAR have been cross-promoting the game on their television and other media platforms for about a year.

"I like seeing when sports collaborate," said Keselowski, a winner of Cup Series races at Bristol in 2012 and 2020. "And not often does NASCAR get to collaborate with other sports because of just basic logistics. But this is a rare exception to that. It's a one-of-a-kind event with a baseball game in Bristol. It's one of those experiences where I don't think it will be repeated. To put 100,000-some fans in a colosseum environment, I can only imagine what that atmosphere will be like. I guarantee it will be epic."