Photographing the Speedway Classic '25 Media Day at Bristol Motor Speedway
On a hot and humid Tuesday, June 24, I had the chance to photograph for Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS) at a media day open house for their upcoming Major League Baseball game.
The event was for the upcoming Speedway Classic '25, where the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds will face off on August 2, 2025 inside the infield at Bristol Motor Speedway. I’ve been covering races here since 2010 and led the track photography team for Nigel Kinrade Photography from 2021 through 2024 but had been a part of the track photo team since 2015. I’ve seen this place from every angle, but watching it turn into a ballpark is something completely different.
Bristol Builds a Ballfield
To make room for a full MLB field, the speedway had to remove half of the frontstretch and backstretch pit walls, along with part of the Goodyear building. That’s not a small adjustment. It shows just how big this moment really is for both baseball and Bristol.
We weren’t allowed to step onto the construction site, but even from pit road, you could see how much work had gone into the build already. Bulldozers were running, gravel was being leveled, and the shape of the future field was starting to take form right in the middle of a NASCAR short track.
Props, Personality, and a Sword
Bristol Motor Speedway provided me with a few custom props: a branded helmet, baseball, and bats made specifically for the Speedway Classic '25. I used them throughout the track, pairing them with the gladiator sword that drivers receive in Victory Lane. It was a fun way to blend the energy of Bristol racing with the tradition of Major League Baseball.
The mascots from both teams showed up and brought some humor to the day. They weren’t allowed into the construction zone either, but they climbed on nearby equipment and played around on a gravel pile like they were part of the crew. It made for some great images that captured the spirit of the event.
Why This Game Matters
The Speedway Classic '25 is more than a baseball game. It’s part of Major League Baseball’s effort to bring the game to meaningful venues with history and heart. Events like the Field of Dreams game in Iowa or the tribute at Rickwood Field are proof that the setting matters. And Bristol is about as iconic as it gets.
I’ve been lucky to spend years photographing motorsports in this place, and this project was a reminder that storytelling can take a lot of forms.
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