For diehard fans, Bristol Motor Speedway isn’t just a racetrack, it’s a vibe. Nestled in the hills of Tennessee, it’s where NASCAR’s version of thunder echoes off 160,000 seats and short-track chaos is the norm, not the exception. They don’t call it “The Last Great Colosseum” for nothing. From Dale Earnhardt’s bump-and-runs to Jeff Gordon getting showered in beer cans, Bristol’s legacy is built on raw emotion and pure racing grit. It’s the kind of place where every lap feels like a punch and every finish is personal.

But lately, something’s been shifting. A new kind of buzz is building around the track. Now, this one doesn’t smell like burnt rubber. And while change isn’t always a bad thing, some fans are starting to ask: are we still talking NASCAR…or something else entirely? Read on to know what’s cooking lately at this iconic venue.

Bristol Motor Speedway’s ambitious MLB collaboration

In case you missed it, in a bold move, Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) recently announced to host a Major League Baseball game at Bristol Motor Speedway. The MLB Speedway Classic is set to take place on August 2nd, 2025. And it will feature none other than the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds.

This unique event will bring together two of America’s beloved sports (baseball and NASCAR) within the storied confines of “The Last Great Colosseum.” With more than 85,000 tickets sold, the event is a major success! It has even shattered the previous paid attendance of 84,587 set in 1954, when Cleveland Stadium hosted the New York Yankees.

The conversion wasn’t subtle. A baseball diamond was tucked inside the infield. The track removed pit walls, poured AstroTurf, and built temporary grandstands across the infield just for this one game. Then, there’s the Ferris wheel, live music headlined by Tim McGraw and Pitbull, and a massive fan zone that turned the venue into a festival, enabling Bristol Motor Speedway to host events with sports entertainment beyond just stock cars.

But, SMI isn’t stopping with just baseball at Bristol Motor Speedway. Following the massive success of the MLB Speedway Classic, SMI is exploring bringing even more major events to the venue. And these include popular ones like WWE wrestling shows and NHL games. These ambitious plans aim to transform Bristol from a NASCAR-focused speedway into a year-round entertainment hub that hosts diverse, large-scale sporting spectacles. This strategy reflects SMI’s goal to maximize venue usage and tap into new fan bases.

However, this news didn’t turn heads the right way for NASCAR (and sports) fans on social media. At least not for all. While one section of fans applauded the innovation and cross-sport excitement, others were far from thrilled. The latter, in particular, raised questions about balancing these expansions with Bristol’s deep-rooted racing heritage. Here’s everything that went down as fans clashed over whether Bristol should remain a racing cathedral or evolve into an all-sport spectacle.

NHL talks at Bristol divide fans

The idea of hosting NHL games at Bristol Motor Speedway is certainly stirring excitement among both NASCAR and hockey fans. But it also brings up a significant challenge: viewing the action from such a vast and unconventional venue. Imagine trying to track a tiny, fast-moving puck from seats designed for watching cars racing at nearly 200 mph. One fan summed up the sentiment succinctly: “Imagine trying to see a puck from that far away.”

This issue isn’t new for sports staged in non-traditional venues. The NHL Winter Classic held recently in a baseball stadium (T-Mobile Park) had notoriously poor sightlines for many fans. While a baseball game at Bristol will manage to offer more manageable viewing due to the larger size of the field and slower pace of play, hockey’s fast puck and smaller surface would be an even tougher spectator experience. “The view at the winter classic in a football stadium is pretty terrible. It would be even worse than a baseball game at Bristol,” another fan pointed out.

Still, there was plenty of support pouring in from fans who saw the crossover as a unique blend of two passionate worlds. “Match made in heaven for us NASCAR and NHL fans,” one user posted, reflecting the enthusiasm many share for both sports. For some, just the novelty of witnessing their favorite hockey teams in such an iconic NASCAR venue is enough to overlook any viewing flaws.

Others focused more on the emotional draw. A Carolina Hurricanes fan wrote, “If the @Canes play there I will absolutely go,” underscoring the regional pride and strong support the NHL team commands in the Southeast. With the Hurricanes drawing consistent attendance and playoff buzz in recent years, their presence at Bristol Motor Speedway, located just 250 miles away, could pull a sizable crowd. Regardless of how far back the seats might be.

Lastly, one fan couldn’t help but bring it back to Bristol’s roots: “Anything but reconfigure the track back to the way it was before 2007 when it sold out every year!?” That sentiment taps into a deeper nostalgia many longtime NASCAR fans hold. While new events are exciting, there’s still a lingering hope that Bristol’s golden-era magic might one day return. Just as loud as ever.