'Really cool': NASCAR driver weighs in on MLB's Speedway Classic at racetrack

On Aug. 2, Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway won't be filled with the deafening sound of roaring engines. Instead, fans will watch a regular-season MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds at one of NASCAR's more iconic tracks. 

On Wednesday, NASCAR Cup Series driver Noah Gragson offered his thoughts on the game at "The Last Great Colosseum."

"Really cool," he said of the event, which will take place in the infield at the track. 

"I know when they announced it, I was like, 'Dang, I want to go to that,' " added the driver. "Having a different sport there and a different fan base is good for the sport of NASCAR, too. People will go to track and say, 'Wow, look at this place! This is incredible.' And maybe they might come to a race. I think it's a great cross-promotion between MLB and NASCAR."

In 2016 at the Bristol racetrack, nearly 157,000 fans, an NCAA record, attended the Tennessee-Virginia Tech football game. 

"It's almost like when they played (college) basketball on an aircraft carrier or when [the NHL holds] the Winter Classic when they play in outdoor stadiums for hockey," Gragson said. "I think people want to be a part of it." 

Gragson also weighed in on what drivers he'd want for a NASCAR baseball team. 

"I'd probably take Ricky Stenhouse, just because we got good chemistry," Gragson said. "Probably Austin (Dillon), Ty (Dillon) might be decent. I might take Denny (Hamlin) — he's an athletic guy. You're talking guys who can throw a football, guys that can shoot a basketball, maybe golfers."

And if any MLB team wants to add Gragson, here's his self-scouting report:

"I hit bombs, baby!"

All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.