CONCORD, N.C. -- NASCAR track promoters have often joked about the idea of putting up a ring after a race and letting the drivers fight out any frustrations.
Charlotte Motor Speedway will have a fighting ring on its grounds May 20 for the NASCAR Monster Energy All-Star Race, but it won't be for the drivers.
Bellator MMA will hold four bouts in an afternoon card in the fan zone area outside the grandstands at the Monster Energy display. The bouts, which will be free to watch, will feature at least one North Carolina fighter in each of them. There will be no television for the fights; Bellator has a deal with Spike, but Fox owns rights for anything on track property through its agreement with NASCAR.
This is the first time that Monster Energy will tie its MMA relationship with NASCAR, which Monster this season took over for Sprint as the NASCAR Cup Series sponsor. Monster plans to have additional fight cards at select tracks later in the year.