BRISTOL, TN — This town of 28,000 year-round residents is typically a little on the sleepy side. When NASCAR comes to Bristol Motor Speedway two weekends a year, the place explodes with visitors from every corner of the country.

Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Chipper Jones threw out the ceremonial first pitches on Saturday, alongside NASCAR drivers Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott. Country superstar Tim McGraw, son of former MLB pitcher Tug McGraw, and Pitbull performed a pre-game concert before players took a lap around the track.

When Larry Carrier opened what would become Bristol Motor Speedway in 1961, this image never crossed his mind: an MLB player standing at home plate near the racing surface waiting on a fastball from the mound 60 feet,