How Knoxville's American Sports Fields helped supply Speedway Classic after weather issues

BRISTOL Chris Zurcher settled into his recliner to watch the Braves and Reds play at Bristol Motor Speedway.The owner of American Sports Fields wasnt at rest for long.His phone hopped with inquiries from field consultants at BMS hoping he could supply pallets of field conditioner after a deluge of rain washed out the game in the first inning on Aug.

2.

Zurcher confirmed he had plenty in stock, stepping in to help the historic MLB game go on in the MLB Speedway Classic on Aug.

3 at the legendary racetrack.

When someone like that calls you, you go, Zurcher said.How Chris Zurcher, American Sports Fields delivered for MLB Speedway ClassicZurcher, 61, fielded the first request during the first inning asking if he had field conditioner, which is used to dry up moisture on wet fields or hold moisture on dry fields.He was on standby until the game was suspended at 10:28 p.m.

ET on Aug 2.

He was asked to have the supplies to the racetrack by 8 a.m.

to get the field redone.

He loaded up his flatbed truck with four pallets of Turface field conditioner and a pallet of clay before going to bed at 1 a.m.I couldnt sleep last night, Zurcher said.

Baseball is my life.

I have been around it since I was 4 years old.

All I have ever wanted to do is what I am doing now.

I finally got enough guts to do it.Zurcher rose at 4:30 a.m.

and hit the road an hour later bound for Bristol with his grandson, Lincoln, and son, Scott, the associate director of athletic facilities at Tennessee.

The trio made the 110-mile trip from Knoxville to BMS arrived at the requested time and were rushed in.

They drove across the track, turned left and the MLB field team from BrightView stood ready to accept the delivery.The grounds crew immediately went through a 40-bag pallet of 50-pound bags to get the field reshaped for play after hours of rain the night before.It was very eye-opening, especially when we pulled in and they were like go right across the track, Zurcher said.American Sports Fields supplies Knoxville high schools, moreZurcher was the quick and obvious answer to meet the needs at Bristol Motor Speedway as the rain caused mayhem in the first attempt to play the game.Murray Cook, the president of BrightView Sports' Turf Division, sent his staff in search of a supplier of filed conditioner.

Anthony DeFeo, a former Knoxville Smokies heads groundskeeper, and Jeremy Bohonko with Pro's Choice Sports Field Products both recommended Zurcher.DeFeo and Bohonko both texted Zurcher.They had nowhere else to get it and I am 24/7, Zurcher said.CHAD: The wild dash to get Billy Amick his No.

11 jersey for Tennessee baseball vs VanderbiltZurcher started his business in 2010 after his son Chad finished his college career at Memphis.

Chad is an athletics business manager at Tennessee and spent eight seasons as the Tennessee director of baseball operations.

He retired and went full time with American Sports Fields almost three years ago.

He supplies and builds fields and facilities for Knoxville-area high schools from Farragut to CAK to Gibbs to Halls to South-Doyle.

He works with junior colleges, Knox County Parks & Recreation and the Knoxville Smokies.Zurcher keeps extra field conditioner on hand because of those jobs, which paid off when major league baseball came calling.They were very welcoming and very thankful, Zurcher said.Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics.

Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson.

If you enjoy Mikes coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Speedway Classic: Knoxville company helped field for Braves, Reds.

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