Reds Embrace NASCAR Vibes Ahead of Historic Bristol Showdown
At first glance, it looked like Brent Suter was on a FaceTime call in the Reds clubhouse. But a closer look revealed he was talking to a video—perfecting his Ricky Bobby impression.
“I’m trying to get down my Ricky Bobby,” joked the veteran Reds reliever, known as much for his spot-on impersonations as for his effectiveness on the mound.
With the Talladega Nights energy in full swing, Cincinnati is leaning into the NASCAR theme ahead of their Aug. 2 “Speedway Classic” game at Bristol Motor Speedway.
It’s more than just Suter hamming it up—catcher Tyler Stephenson even has special gear styled after Ricky Bobby’s racing team. The players—and their families—are all in.
“Oh yeah. We’re locked and loaded,” Suter said. “The wives are especially dialed in. We’ve got kids in pit crew outfits, wives in NASCAR boots—it’s amazing. Their buy-in is off the charts.”
But while the atmosphere is playful, the stakes are very real. The game at Bristol is an official regular-season matchup—no exhibition vibes here. The Reds, fresh off several trade deadline moves, are pushing for a postseason run and aiming to clinch their series against the Braves in this high-profile game.
Reds manager Terry Francona made it clear: “This isn’t just for show. It’s a real game that matters in the standings.” He’s cautious about distractions like players being mic’d up mid-game. “If someone makes a mistake while talking to an announcer, that’s not going to work.”
Francona reflected on similar events from his Red Sox days, particularly a trip to Japan that included real games mixed with marketing events. “The exhibitions were fun, but when the real games started, we were still being asked to do side events—and I was losing my mind,” he said.
Still, Francona acknowledged the broader goal. “If it’s good for the game, I think we need to do it—and do it with a smile.”
Suter is already doing just that. So is rookie Chase Burns, who gets the start for Cincinnati in what will be the first MLB regular-season game ever played in Tennessee. The Nashville native will face Braves ace Spencer Strider, who grew up in Knoxville—making it a Tennessee showdown on home turf.
“Two Tennessee guys in the first Tennessee game—it’s special,” said Burns. “Just a really cool experience.”
MLB anticipates a massive crowd of over 85,000 at Bristol, potentially setting a new regular-season attendance record. The current record of 84,587 has stood since a 1954 Yankees-Indians matchup in Cleveland.
“Crazy,” Burns said.
And while no one’s actually racing cars during the game—played on a baseball field installed in the infield—the NASCAR atmosphere will be impossible to miss.
“I’ve never been to a NASCAR race,” said Suter, “but the sheer number of people and the energy—it’s going to feel more like a college football game or a huge NASCAR event. Just seeing everyone go wild—it’s going to be incredible.”
He’s especially excited about the celebrity sightings. “Tim McGraw? Pitbull? It’s going to be awesome.”
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