Chevrolet made its presence felt in a big way at the inaugural MLB Speedway Classic, a one-of-a-kind baseball spectacle held inside NASCAR’s legendary Bristol Motor Speedway. As the Atlanta Braves took on the Cincinnati Reds in Tennessee’s first-ever Major League Baseball game, Chevy seized the opportunity to blur the lines between two of America’s most iconic sporting obsessions: baseball and motorsport.
For a brand riding high—having recently surpassed Ford as the number two EV maker in the U.S.—the event offered yet another chance to stay top of mind. Chevrolet’s EV momentum, driven by nameplates like the Blazer EV SS, continues to rise—even as models like the Equinox EV face looming price pressure under the revised federal tax credit scheme.
So, where better to flex a bit of cultural muscle than in front of 90,000 baseball fans inside a race track?
When NASCAR Meets MLB
The two-day event took place August 2–3, with Bristol’s half-mile oval transformed into a playable baseball diamond using 124,000 square feet of AstroTurf and over 300 tons of clay and gravel. The Braves took home a 4–2 win in a game interrupted by weather and resumed on Sunday—but the real drama played out off the field.
Chevy had the spotlight throughout. NASCAR drivers Chase Elliott and Ross Chastain took to the track in Braves- and Reds-themed Chevy race cars, giving fans a show before the first pitch. Even Dale Earnhardt Jr. made an appearance, teaming up with Budweiser to showcase a special paint scheme on a classic Chevy stock car.
The stunt wasn’t just a throwback—it was smart marketing. Chevy is leaning heavily into its dual identity: performance heritage and forward-looking EV innovation. It’s the same tension explored in our brutally honest review of the Blazer EV SS, where the brand’s sporty ambitions meet the realities of electric utility.
Game Delays, Hot Dog Disasters, And Branding Wins
Despite a rain delay that suspended Saturday’s game after just four outs, the Sunday resumption drew huge crowds. Braves outfielder Eli White hit two home runs and rookie Hurston Waldrep logged his first MLB win. Behind the scenes, things weren’t as smooth—concessions ran out early, leaving fans with overpriced snacks and no napkins. On Sunday, officials allowed fans to bring their own food. A small fix, but one that highlighted the logistical challenge of hosting baseball in a speedway.
Still, none of that overshadowed the branding win. Chevrolet, already a staple in NASCAR, used the MLB crossover to bring its personality into an entirely new context. By planting itself at the centre of a sport it doesn’t traditionally sponsor, Chevy showed it can speak to more than just car buyers—it can tap into culture.
Chevrolet
Why This Matters
The MLB Speedway Classic was a stunt—but a successful one. With Fox Sports deploying 40 broadcast cameras and delivering immersive coverage, the event reached millions. Chevrolet’s role wasn’t just product placement—it was narrative placement. The company isn’t just building EVs and performance cars; it’s writing itself into the story of what American mobility looks like in 2025.
When that story includes race cars, baseball bats, and roaring crowds in one of NASCAR’s most hallowed arenas? That’s called a home run.