Crown Royal Presents the Curtiss Shaver 400 at the Brickyard

Introducing Thunder Alley at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

July 25, 2012 by Brian Groce

NASCAR Sprint Cup teams are on the move after 18 years at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with the top 35 cars in the points working from the pitside MotoGP garages instead of Gasoline Alley during the Kroger Super Weekend at the Brickyard.

The move will let fans in the grandstands across the track from the MotoGP garages get a much closer look at teams’ preparations for the Crown Royal Presents the Curtiss Shaver 400 at the Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com.

Fans also can get as close to the action as possible through Thunder Alley, a free area located near the far south end of the MotoGP garages, in front of the last building behind Gasoline Alley.

Thunder Alley will put fans just 30 feet from the back door of the garages of the top 10 drivers in the Sprint Cup point standings, and those doors will be open all weekend for great viewing opportunities. Fans in Thunder Alley also will see and feel Sprint Cup cars in points positions 36 and lower and all NASCAR Nationwide Series cars – which will use the traditional Gasoline Alley garages – rumble past them as they enter the track.

To access Thunder Alley, fans must walk down Hulman Boulevard in the center of the infield and turn down 5th Street, next to the IU Emergency Health Medical Center, and continue to walk along the south edge of Gasoline Alley to the building just across from the MotoGP garages.

2012 Kroger Super Weekend At The Brickyard Schedule

July 25, 2012 by Brian Groce

THURSDAY, July 26th

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

10 a.m. Public Gates Open
Noon-3 p.m. NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice
3:30-5 p.m. NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice
5 p.m. Public Gates Close

Hauler Parade, Main Street, Speedway

5-6 p.m. Live Music by Corey Cox (Hauler Parade Stage, Main Street, Speedway)
6 p.m. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Haulers Arrive on Main Street
6:15 p.m. Question-and-answer session with Leonard Wood (Hauler Parade Stage)
6:30-7:30 p.m. Hauler Hustle 4K at the Brickyard Footrace, IMS (registration fee required)
6:45-7:15 p.m. NASCAR, GRAND-AM Autograph Session
6:45-7:45 p.m. Media Pit Stop Challenge
8-9 p.m. Live Music by Toy Factory (Hauler Parade Stage)

FRIDAY, July 27th

6:30 a.m. Public Gates Open
8 a.m. Wristband Distribution for Autograph Sessions, East Chalet, Pagoda Plaza
8-9 a.m. GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Combined Practice
9:15-9:30 a.m. GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge GS Class Qualifying
9:35-9:50 a.m. GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge ST Class Qualifying
10-11 a.m. GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series Combined Practice
11-11:55 a.m. Driver Autograph Session #1 (J. Burton, Earnhardt, Harvick, Kahne, Patrick), Chalet No. 4, Pagoda Plaza (must have wristband)
11:15-11:30 a.m. GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series DP Class Qualifying
11:35-11:50 a.m. GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series GT Class Qualifying
11:45-11:55 a.m. Driver Q&A (Dillon, Menard, Newman), Chevy Stage, near IMS Hall of Fame Museum
Noon-12:35 p.m. Fan Pit Walk and Fan Fest, Pit Lane
12:20 p.m. GRAND-AM Driver Introductions
12:40 p.m. Invocation
12:41 p.m. National Anthem
12:45 p.m. GRAND-AM Parade Lap
12:45-1 p.m. Driver Q&A (J. Burton, Earnhardt, Gordon, Harvick, Kahne, Patrick), Chevy Stage, near IMS Hall of Fame Museum
12:50-1:45 p.m. Driver Autograph Session #2 (Dillon, Menard, Newman), Chalet No. 4, Pagoda Plaza (must have wristband)
1-3:30 p.m. Brickyard Sports Car Challenge GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Race (Two hours, 30 minutes)
1:10-2:10 p.m. Driver Autograph Session #3 (J. Gordon), Chalet No. 4, Pagoda Plaza (must have wristband)
3-4 p.m. Driver Autograph Session #4 (Johnson, Stewart), Chalet No. 4, Pagoda Plaza (must have wristband)
4:05-4:20 p.m. Driver Q&A (Johnson, Stewart), Chevy Stage, near IMS Hall of Fame Museum
4:10-7:10 p.m. Brickyard Grand Prix GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series Race (Three hours)
7:15-8:15 p.m. Live Music by Davy Knowles, Coca-Cola Stage, Pagoda Plaza
8:30 p.m. Public Gates Close

SATURDAY, July 28th

7 a.m. Public Gates Open
8 a.m. Wristband Distribution for Autograph Session, East Chalet, Pagoda Plaza
8:30-9:30 a.m. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice
9:30-10:30 a.m. Live Music by Cooke & Belle, Coca-Cola Stage, Pagoda Plaza
10:30-11:30 a.m. NASCAR Nationwide Series Driver Autograph Session, East Chalet No. 2, Pagoda Plaza (must have wristband)
10:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice
11:45 a.m. Driver Q&A (Allgaier), Chevy Stage, near IMS Hall of Fame Museum
Noon IMS Kids Club Event, Flag Lot
12:30-1:30 p.m. Live Music by Cooke & Belle, Coca-Cola Stage, Pagoda Plaza
12:35-2:05 p.m. NASCAR Nationwide Series Qualifying
2:10-4 p.m. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying
2:30 p.m. Driver Q&A (Buescher), Chevy Stage, near IMS Hall of Fame Museum
4:05 p.m. NASCAR Nationwide Series Driver Introductions, Victory Podium
4:31 p.m. Invocation
4:33 p.m. National Anthem, Corey Cox
4:38 p.m. Command To Start Engines, Matt Jauchius, Chief Marketing Officer, Nationwide
4:50 p.m. Indiana 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series Race (100 laps)
7 p.m. Public Gates Close

SUNDAY, July 29th

6 a.m. Public Gates Open
8:30 a.m. Live Music by Sunny Sweeney, Brickfest Stage, Inside Turn 2 Near IMS Hall of Fame Museum
9 a.m. Live Music by Greg Bates, Brickfest Stage, Inside Turn 2 Near IMS Hall of Fame Museum
9:15 a.m. Driver Q&A (McMurray), Chevy Stage, near IMS Hall of Fame Museum
9:30 a.m. Driver Q&A (Menard, Smith), Chevy Stage, near IMS Hall of Fame Museum
9:45 a.m. Driver Q&A (J. Burton, Montoya), Chevy Stage, near IMS Hall of Fame Museum
9:40 a.m. Live Music by The Mavericks, Brickfest Stage, Inside Turn 2 Near IMS Hall of Fame Museum
10 a.m. Driver Q&A (Harvick), Chevy Stage, near IMS Hall of Fame Museum
10:30 a.m. Driver Q&A (Johnson, Kahne), Chevy Stage, near IMS Hall of Fame Museum
10:30 a.m. Live Music by Justin Moore, Brickfest Stage, Inside Turn 2 Near IMS Hall of Fame Museum
11:50 a.m. Live Music by The Band Perry, Trackside Stage, Yard of Bricks
12:20 p.m. Vintage NASCAR Track Lap
12:30 p.m. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver Introductions, Victory Podium
12:53 p.m. “America The Beautiful,” Sunny Sweeney
1 p.m. Invocation, Rev. Howard Brammer
1:01 p.m. National Anthem, Raul Malo of The Mavericks
1:03 p.m. Flyover (Two U.S. Marine Corps V-22 Osprey tilt-rotator aircraft)
1:10 p.m. Command To Start Engines, Mari Hulman George, Chairman of the Board, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
1:19 p.m. Crown Royal Presents the Curtiss Shaver 400 at the Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race (160 laps)
6 p.m. Public Gates Close

2012 Kroger Super Weekend tickets: Ticket orders for the 2012 Kroger Super Weekend at the Brickyard can be made at www.imstix.com and through 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.

General admission tickets will cost $10 for Thursday, July 26, $30 for Friday, July 27, $25 for Saturday, July 28 and $30 for Sunday, July 29. A four-day Kroger Super Weekend general admission ticket is $80, a great value for the ultimate race weekend.

Children ages 12 and under will be admitted free any of the four days of the Kroger Super Weekend at the Brickyard when accompanied by an adult with a general admission ticket.

Reserved tickets for the Saturday and Sunday action also will be available at various price ranges.

The Band Perry, The Mavericks, Justin Moore, Greg Bates & Sunny Sweeney to perform at the Brickyard

July 24, 2012 by Brian Groce

The Band Perry will headline a live performance Sunday, July 29 before the Crown Royal Presents the Curtiss Shaver 400 at the Brickyard powered by BigMachineRecords.com at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The lineup also includes several other country artists on the Big Machine Label Group roster.

One of the most popular and accomplished groups to hit the country music scene in years, The Band Perry will play a pre-race mini concert on the IMS main straightaway prior to the 1 p.m. start of the 19th annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

Other stars performing between 8:30-11 a.m. on Race Morning at IMS include Justin Moore, Sunny Sweeney, Greg Bates and The Mavericks, whose lead singer Raul Malo will sing the national anthem. These performances will take place on the infield stage inside Turn 2, near the IMS Hall of Fame Museum.

The Band Perry: Featuring an eclectic sound that combines classic country music with elements of rock, gospel and soul, The Band Perry’s music is recognized for its perfect three-part harmonies. The group’s self-titled debut album was released by Republic Nashville in October 2010 and was certified platinum one year later. While touring this summer, the sibling trio is writing and recording its second album. Recent honors for The Band Perry include a 2012 Grammy nomination for Vocal Group of the Year. In 2011, the group was named New Artist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association.

The Mavericks: A country music band formed in 1989, The Mavericks placed more than a dozen songs on the Billboard country charts, which included the 1996 smash hit “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down,” “Here Comes The Rain” and “Dance The Night Away.” The band has won numerous accolades, including Academy of Country Music Awards as Top New Vocal Group and Top Vocal Group in 1994 and as the Top Vocal Group in 1995 as well as a 1995 Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal. In 2003, the band members split up to pursue other musical interests but reunited recently and signed with The Valory Music Co. before kicking off a 2012 tour.

Justin Moore: Recognized for his high-energy live performances, Justin Moore is wasting little time in climbing the ladder to superstardom. Moore has toured with some of the biggest names in country music, including Trace Adkins and Luke Bryan, and he also appeared on “The Rowdy Frynds Tour” with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank Williams Jr. in 2008. He was named Billboard “New Country Artist of 2009” and received nominations for the 2010 CMT Music Awards “Nationwide On Your Side” Award for emerging artists and the Music Row Magazine Breakthrough Artist of 2010. His hometown anthem release of “Small Town USA” hit No. 1 on the country charts, as Moore became the first solo artist to have a song from a debut album climb to No. 1 since Taylor Swift’s “Our Song” in 2007.

Greg Bates: Up-and-coming country star Greg Bates is a talented singer, guitarist and songwriter who just released his self-titled EP, making a major-label debut on Republic Nashville. A Nashville native who found inspiration by studying country superstars Randy Travis, Dwight Yoakam and Alan Jackson, Bates worked on his musical career while majoring in music business at Belmont University.

Sunny Sweeney: Sassy singer/songwriter Sunny Sweeney recently celebrated her 30th performance on the Grand Ole Opry stage, since debuting in 2007. Over the course of her career, she has not only remained true to her traditional roots while appealing to a contemporary audience but has shared the stage with country icons Loretta Lynn and Hank Williams Jr., as well as today’s hot superstars like Brad Paisley, Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker. Throughout the summer, Sweeney will open several dates for Blake Shelton, Jerrod Niemann and Miranda Lambert. She is currently writing new material the follow-up to her critically-acclaimed album, “CONCRETE,” which was released in 2011 on Republic Nashville. Sweeney penned seven of the 10 tracks, including “From A Table Away,” which is the highest-charting debut single for a female country artist since Taylor Swift more than four years ago.

Ron Howard to drive the Pace Car at the Brickyard

July 24, 2012 by Brian Groce

Two-time Academy Award®-winning director Ron Howard will drive the Pace Car and lead the field of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series superstars to the green flag at the Crown Royal Presents the Curtiss Shaver 400 at the Brickyard powered by BigMachineRecords.com on Sunday, July 29, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it was announced July 20.

Howard has become an entertainment legend as a director, producer and actor. He has directed worldwide blockbusters including “A Beautiful Mind,” “Angels & Demons,” “Apollo 13,” “Backdraft,” “Cinderella Man,” “Cocoon,” “Parenthood,” “Splash,” “The Da Vinci Code,” “Willow” and many more. He received Oscars® for Best Director and Best Picture in 2001 for “A Beautiful Mind” and was nominated for Best Director in 2008 for “Frost/Nixon.”

Howard will be making his first visit to the historic speedway as a guest of, and to shadow, four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon and his No. 24 Drive to End Hunger team.

Howard’s upcoming epic-action drama, “Rush,” stars Chris Hemsworth (“The Avengers”) as the charismatic Englishman James Hunt and Daniel Brühl (“Inglourious Basterds”) as the disciplined Austrian perfectionist Niki Lauda, whose clashes on the Grand Prix racetrack epitomized the contrast between these two extraordinary characters, a distinction reflected in their private lives. “Rush” is currently in postproduction and will be released in 2013.

“It’s a great honor to welcome a true legend, Ron Howard, to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race,” said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation president and chief executive officer. “Ron has become immersed in motorsports’ culture and history through the filming of ‘Rush,’ so he’s an ideal person to pace the field for one of NASCAR’s biggest races at ‘The Greatest Race Course in the World.'”

The Pace Car for the 19th annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at IMS will be announced soon.

“I’ve been a longtime admirer of Jeff’s work both on and off the track,” Howard said. “Not only is he a stellar driver, but his commitment to ending older hunger in America shows his passion for helping others. I’m honored to drive the Pace Car at IMS, and I thank NASCAR for giving me this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Howard made his screen acting debut when he was 18 months old in the 1956 movie “Frontier Woman,” which led to a role for Howard at the age of 2 in a stage production of “The Seven-Year Itch.”

He was introduced to America on a much grander scale at age 6 when in 1960 he was cast in the role of Opie Taylor on “The Andy Griffith Show,” which led to major motion-picture appearances in the “The Music Man” in 1962 and “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father” in 1963.

Following his run with “The Andy Griffith Show” that ended in 1968, Howard starred with Henry Fonda in “The Smith Family” before entering the University of Southern California’s film school in 1972. Howard’s role in the 1973 George Lucas film, “American Graffiti,” led him to the leading role of Richie Cunningham in the hit television sitcom “Happy Days” from 1974-84.

Additional film roles came Howard’s way, including a starring role in John Wayne’s final movie, “The Shootist,” in 1976 that wrapped in time for Howard to direct his first motion picture, “Grand Theft Auto,” in 1977.

Howard met Academy Award®-winning producer Brian Grazer in 1981, and they produced and directed “Night Shift, a comedy featuring Howard’s “Happy Days” co-star Henry Winkler. Two years later, the duo created the hit film “Splash,” starring Tom Hanks, Darryl Hannah and John Candy. Howard and Grazer created Imagine Films Entertainment, which produced such hit films as “Willow” (1988), “Parenthood” (1989), “Backdraft” (1989), “Apollo 13” (1995) and “Ransom” (1996), all directed by Howard.

IMS will be the epicenter of American stock car racing and North American sports car racing July 26-29, 2012, as the NASCAR Nationwide Series and GRAND-AM Road Racing will join the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for four exciting races during the inaugural Kroger Super Weekend at the Brickyard.

It will be the first time in IMS history that races will take place on the 2.5-mile oval and 2.534-mile Grand Prix road course during the same weekend, and GRAND-AM Road Racing and the NASCAR Nationwide Series will make their IMS racing debuts, respectively, Friday, July 27 and Saturday, July 28. The weekend will culminate Sunday, July 29, with the running of the 19th annual Crown Royal Presents the Curtiss Shaver 400 at the Brickyard powered by BigMachineRecords.com.

Curtiss Shaver Wins Crown Royal’s “Your Hero’s Name Here” Program

July 23, 2012 by Brian Groce

When local firefighters saved Troy native Curtiss Shaver’s life during a tragic farming accident, Shaver knew he’d found his calling. Though the accident claimed the lower part of his left leg, Shaver persevered and began a lifelong career as a firefighter and certified EMT with the goal of giving back to his community. In a special event today at Troy Fire Station No. 1, a ceremonial Yard of Bricks was revealed to recognize Shaver as winner of Crown Royal’s “Your Hero’s Name Here” program.

The national contest renames the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) on July 29th after a deserving American hero. In an effort to bring a little piece of the famed track (more commonly known as The Brickyard) to Troy, Alabama, Crown Royal orchestrated a special ceremony that resulted in the laying of a replica “Yard of Bricks” in Troy’s downtown area. The final engraved brick bearing the race logo was personally laid by Shaver, culminating the ceremony.

Nearly 200 Troy residents, including Mayor Jimmy C. Lunsford and Shaver’s friends, family and fellow firefighters attended today’s bricklaying ceremony in front of the fire station on East Walnut Street to honor their local hero. In addition to the attendees from the Troy community, special event participants from Crown Royal, Big Machine Label Group and IMS spoke during the ceremony honoring Shaver. Country music star Justin Moore made a surprise visit to Troy, where he performed his current single “Til My Last Day” and his number one smash hit “Small Town USA” at the ceremony.

“It was an honor to come to Alabama on this special day to pay homage to Curtiss,” said Moore. “He truly embodies the all-American hero and I am glad I got to be a part of this historical celebration. We will have a great time in Indy for the Curtiss Shaver 400.”

The official race title to be used throughout the national television broadcast and incorporated into race memorabilia as well as the race winner’s trophy will be the Crown Royal Presents the Curtiss Shaver 400 at the Brickyard powered by Big MachineRecords.com. Various events and celebrations will take place leading up to and throughout race weekend to honor Shaver, during which Crown Royal would like to remind everyone to please drink responsibly.

“I’m a huge NASCAR fan, so having my name as a race title is absolutely unbelievable” said Shaver. “I’m honored that I was nominated for this incredible contest and humbled that so many people voted for my story. I’m looking forward to representing emergency personnel everywhere who risk their lives for others on a daily basis.”

This race will mark the sixth time Crown Royal has awarded race naming rights to an adult fan. This year, the program focused on all of the unsung heroes who make a difference in their communities, from firefighters and police officers, to first responders and local volunteers. Five heroes were chosen as finalists and adult fans visited the Crown Royal Facebook page to cast their votes for the person they felt was most deserving of the honor.

“Crown Royal could not be happier to announce Curtiss Shaver as our ‘Your Hero’s Name Here’ winner,” said Yvonne Briese, VP Marketing, Diageo North American whisky. “His story of perseverance and determination inspired everyone in the Crown Royal family and we are proud to honor him with the ultimate race experience.”

In addition to being a firefighter and certified EMT, Shaver is a husband and father of three. His career in the field began as a volunteer, less than two years after his farming accident. This sense of hard work and dedication were major components of his contest nomination, submitted by fellow Fire Lieutenant Brandy Cox.

As part of the grand-prize package, Shaver will ride in the pre-race pace car, deliver the trophy bearing his name to the race winner in Victory Lane, and kiss the bricks following the race. Through a partnership with IMS, country music artists from Big Machine Label Group including The Band Perry, The Mavericks, Justin Moore and Greg Bates will play special concerts at the track to honor Shaver throughout the race weekend.

“We feel privileged to host the ‘Your Hero’s Name Here’ race on July 29 for the first time in Indianapolis Motor Speedway history” said Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation president and CEO Jeff Belskus. “Our entire staff is thrilled to help Crown Royal provide Curtiss with the royal treatment and recognize all heroes attending this year’s race.”