Music industry leader Big Machine Label Group is the new entitlement sponsor of the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, one of the crown jewels of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

This year’s race, scheduled for Sunday, July 23 at IMS, will be called theBig Machine Brickyard 400. The chart-topping country star, signed to BMLG’s Valory Music Co. imprint, will attend the event and perform for fans during pre-race celebrations.

More details about the multi-year agreement, including plans for the 2018 Big Machine Brickyard 400, will be announced at this year’s race.

“I’m very excited to officially announce that Big Machine and Brantley Gilbert are joining the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 2017 Brickyard 400 NASCAR race!” said Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta. “Racing has always been part of Big Machine’s DNA, and we’re thrilled to partner with the world’s most iconic racing brands.”

Said Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles: “We have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Big Machine, and we’re thrilled to see that expand through this very unique entitlement sponsorship. This partnership will bring a big-name artist our fans know and love to IMS, enhancing what already is one of NASCAR’s marquee event weekends.”

Founded in 2005, Big Machine Label Group is an independent record label headquartered in Nashville. In addition to Gilbert, the artist roster includes superstars such as Taylor Swift, Reba McEntire, Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, Rascal Flatts, Danielle Bradbery, The Cadillac Three, Justin Moore, Ronnie Dunn, Jennifer Nettles, Eli Young Band, Drake White, Brett Young, Tucker Beathard and A Thousand Horses.

Gilbert has emerged as one of the most exciting, energetic solo artists in country music since the 2009 release of his debut album “Modern Day Prodigal Son.” His second album, “Halfway To Heaven,” was re-released in 2011 and reached No. 2 on the Billboard U.S. Country chart, producing two No. 1 singles on Hot Country Songs chart he wrote – “Country Must Be Country Wide” and “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do.” The Georgia native followed up his 2013 ACM New Male Vocalist Award win with the chart-topping album “Just As I Am” in May 2014. Featuring two No. 1 singles, “Bottoms Up” and “One Hell of an Amen,” “Just As I Am” earned Gilbert the American Music Award for Favorite Country Album.

Gilbert’s fourth studio album, “The Devil Don’t Sleep,” climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard U.S. Country chart after its release in January 2017, marking his second straight No. 1 record.

The 24th annual Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 race weekend features more attractions and entertainment than ever July 21-23.

400 Fest, a new, two-night concert at IMS, is scheduled for Friday, July 21 and Saturday, July 22. The event features six global music superstars over two nights, with Major Lazer headlining July 21 and The Chainsmokers headlining July 22. Visit www.400fest.com for more information and to purchase tickets.

Another off-track attraction is the return of the annual IMS Hauler Parade, featuring a special “NASCAR Fan Fest” that will bring the stars of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series to Speedway’s Main Street for an afternoon and evening of fun and engaging activities Friday, July 21.

On the famous 2.5-mile oval, practice for the Lilly Diabetes 250 NASCAR XFINITY Series race will take place Friday, July 21. Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying for the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 and qualifying and the race for the Lilly Diabetes 250 are set for Saturday, July 22 at IMS.

The Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 will start at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, July 23, featuring all of the stars of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. The race also will mark the final IMS start of popular NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr., who is retiring after this season.

Visit IMS.com to purchase tickets for all 2017 IMS events, including the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 and Lilly Diabetes 250 on July 21-23, and for more information on all events.

Yesterday, at approximately 1:00 pm, the Indiana State Police and Switzerland County Sheriff’s Department responded to a two vehicle crash on State Road 156 near Concord Road that claimed the life of a Monticello, Indiana man.

The initial investigation by Trooper Matt Holley with the Indiana State Police-Versailles Crash Reconstruction Team determined that a 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle being driven by Steven W. Adams, age 60, Monticello, Indiana was traveling eastbound on State Road 156 when a deer ran into the path of the motorcycle. 

The motorcycle struck the deer, causing Adams’ passenger, Deborah A. Bloch, age 50, Monticello, Indiana to be thrown from the vehicle. 

Adams and the motorcycle then crossed into the westbound lanes of State Road 156 where the motorcycle was struck by a westbound 2008 Chevrolet Equinox being driven by Michele L. Disney, age 63, Milan, Indiana.

As a result of the collision, Adams suffered fatal injuries.  He was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Switzerland County Coroner. 

Bloch was flown to University of Cincinnati Hospital with serious injuries. 

Disney was uninjured in the collision.  Neither Adams nor Bloch were wearing helmets.  Disney was wearing a seatbelt.  Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be factors in the crash.

The crash investigation is ongoing at this time.

The Adams family has been notified.

Trp. Holley was assisted by the Switzerland County Sheriff’s Department, Switzerland County EMS, Posey Township Fire Department, Air Methods Medical Helicopter, and the Switzerland County Coroner’s Office.

The Fourth of July holiday ended abruptly for a Huntingburg man, as he spent the remainder of his night in the Daviess County Jail on impaired driving charges.

Arrested and Charged was Russell J. Morris, 57, Huntingburg, IN. 

– Operating While Intoxicated, Controlled Substance, Class A Misdemeanor

– Reckless Driving, Class B Misdemeanor

At 11:27 P.M. Tuesday night, Trooper Beau Brumett observed a blue 2006 Toyota Tacoma driving on State Road 257 at over 100 miles per hour.  

Brumett stopped the Toyota on SR257 near County Road 650 North. 

While speaking with Morris, Brumett believed Morris was driving his vehicle while impaired.  

After testing at Daviess Community Hospital in Washington, Morris was found to be under the influence of THC and opiates.

Morris was transported to the Daviess County Jail without incident and charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated and Reckless Driving.

Indiana Conservation Officers responded to the Mounds Beach at Brookville Reservoir at 2:49PM reference CPR in progress on a toddler of a possible drowning.

A 10 year old girl was swimming at the beach when she made contact with what she thought was a body. 

She immediately informed her father who swam over and located a toddler under the surface of the water. 

He pulled the toddler to the shoreline where 2 bystanders started CPR. 

Conservation Officers responded within 15 minutes and located the parents, Benjamin and Ofelia Ramirez of Cincinnati, who were already searching for the toddler who had been missing for 5 to 10 minutes.

An ambulance arrived within 10 minutes after officers did and continued CPR to the landing zone for Air Care to arrive and transport.

Air Care arrived and transported the toddler to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.  After continued CPR at the hospital the 5 year old juvenile female was pronounced deceased at 4:26PM.

Indiana Conservation Officers requests visitors to our beaches to be aware there are no lifeguards on duty and there is a swim at your own risk policy except Indiana Dunes State Park.  With inherent dangers swim with a friend and/or with a personal flotation device.   
 

A Chicago, Illinois man was stopped on the Indiana Toll Road and arrested for Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) and Possession of Cocaine with a sober wife and a four month old child inside their car.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Alaa Hamed revealed while on patrol early this July 4th, 2017, morning, at approximately 12:57 a.m., he saw a 2005 GMC SUV going west bound on the Indiana Toll Road at the 2.9 mile marker (this is approximately three miles east of the Indiana/Illinois state line) in the left lane at a high rate of speed. 

Hamed caught up with the SUV and paced that vehicle for approximately at mile at 79 miles per-hour in a well posted 55 miles per-hour speed zone. 

He also watched the SUV weave from side to side and make multiple unsafe lane movements.

Upon stopping the SUV Hamed saw a female (wife) in the rear passenger seat and an infant (four month old) in a car seat seat.

The driver, later identified by an Illinois driver’s license as Sergio A. Sandoval, 29 of Chicago, Illinois, smelled of an overwhelming odor of alcoholic beverage and appeared confused when Hamed spoke with him. 

Further investigation revealed that Sandoval was impaired and had a Blood Alcohol Content (B.A.C.) of .09%.  Sandoval also had cocaine on his person.

Sandoval was taken and incarcerated at the Lake County Jail in Crown Point.  The SUV was turned over to Sandoval’s sober wife.

Charges:

• Operating While Intoxicated with minor passenger-Level 6 Felony
• Possession of Cocaine-Level 6 Felony

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

A 25-year-old Salem man was killed last night in Henderson County, Ky. 

Michael Osborne, Salem, died of blunt force trauma in a fireworks accident Monday night. 

Deputies from the Henderson County Sheriff’s Offfice along with Henderson County EMS responded to a 911 call to the 9000 block of Dixon Road in reference to a fireworks accident. 

Upon arrival, police determined Osborne was attempting to set off aerial fireworks when one of them exploded on him. 

According to a witness statement, Osborne was attempting to ignite a firework when it went off, striking him in the chest and exploding. 

Osborne was transported by Henderson County EMS to Methodist Hospital where he was pronounced dead.