Big Machine Backs Brickyard 400 With Race Day Performances By Country Superstars
July 01, 2011 | By Paul Kelly
Big Machine Label Group is bringing some of the top superstars in country music, including Reba and Rascal Flatts, to the Brickyard 400 on Sunday, July 31 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for live Race Day performances as part of its new presenting sponsorship of the annual NASCAR classic.
The Brickyard 400 presented by Big Machine Records.com starts at 1 p.m. (ET), with advance-purchased Race Day ticket prices starting at just $30. Big Machine Records is the first recording label to serve as a presenting sponsor of the race in its 18-year history.
“Big Machine Records represents some of the best artists in country music, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is excited to host several of them on race morning during the Brickyard 400,” said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation president and chief executive officer. “Adding this country music-festival provides great value to our fans and will make this year’s Brickyard 400 an even more unique and exciting event on and off the track.”
Rascal Flatts will play a pre-race mini concert, partially broadcast on ESPN, before singing the national anthem. The legendary Reba will sing “America The Beautiful.” Both performances will take place near the famed Yard of Bricks on the front straightaway.
Other stars performing sets between 9-11:30 a.m. on Race Morning at IMS include platinum sibling trio The Band Perry, Justin Moore, Brantley Gilbert, Thomas Rhett and more. These performances will take place on the infield stage inside Turn 2, near the IMS Hall of Fame Museum.
Reba has enjoyed more than 55 million in worldwide album sales; 63 Top 10 hits; 15 American Music Awards, nine People’s Choice Awards, seven Country Music Association Awards, two GRAMMYS and is one of only four entertainers in history to be honored with a National Artistic Achievement Award by U.S. Congress.
Rascal Flatts has sold 20 million albums, 25 million digital downloads and earned 13 No. 1 singles. With the No. 1 debut on the Country Albums sales chart of “Nothing Like This,” Rascal Flatts became one of only four country acts to debut six consecutive studio albums at No. 1. The band has won nearly 40 awards from the ACM, CMA, AMA and People’s Choice, among others.
Big Machine Label Group, led by President and CEO Scott Borchetta, includes Big Machine Records, The Valory Music Co. and Republic Nashville.
In 2010, the third album by Big Machine signature artist Taylor Swift, “SPEAK NOW,” became the best-selling country studio album debut of all time and established Swift as the fourth female artist in history across all genres to debut with more than 1 million first-week units sold.
Big Machine Label Group’s current artist roster includes multi-platinum superstars Taylor Swift, Reba, Rascal Flatts, Martina McBride and Jewel, platinum sensations The Band Perry, established acts Justin Moore, Jack Ingram and the Eli Young Band, and hot newcomers Steel Magnolia, Sunny Sweeney, Edens Edge, Brantley Gilbert and comedienne Melissa Peterman.
In five years, Big Machine Records artists have received multiple GRAMMY, CMA, ACM, American Music Awards, CMT Music Awards, Teen Choice Awards, MTV Video Music Award and People’s Choice Award accolades as well as Brit Award and JUNO Award nominations.
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2011 Brickyard 400 tickets: Tickets are on sale for the 2011 Brickyard 400 on Sunday, July 31 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Advance-purchased Race Day ticket prices start at just $30. Fans can buy tickets online at www.imstix.com, by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, or by visiting the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.
Children 12 and under will receive free general admission to any IMS event in 2011 when accompanied by an adult general admission ticket holder.
Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.