Braves Win Historic Speedway Classic After Rain Delay

The MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway set a paid attendance record of over 91,000 for Tennessee's first-ever regular-season Major League Baseball game. Significant rain delays forced suspension of play until Sunday, after which the Atlanta Braves defeated the Cincinnati Reds 4-2. Both teams and fans expressed frustration over the handling of the weather delays, which resulted in lost starting pitchers. The event featured Braves legend Chipper Jones, who criticized MLB's emphasis on power hitting during the festivities. Transforming the speedway into a baseball field was a major logistical effort, and organizers plan to recycle or donate much of the material, including contributions to hurricane recovery projects. Despite weather challenges, the event was praised for its atmosphere and unique blending of baseball and motorsports.