Landing his long-awaited opportunity for full-time racing, Josh Rice of Crittenden, Ky., has signed with James Rattliff’s Campbellsville, Ky.-based JRR Motorsports with plans to follow a national tour in 2026.

Competing for national touring wins and triumphing at racetracks he hadn't previously won at, Josh Rice’s confidence this season has been noticeably high. Entering Saturday’s Dream XXXI finale at Eldora Speedway after Friday's prelim action, his confidence must now be nothing short of sky-high.

The driver that swept through last year’s Sunoco North-South 100 action at Florence Speedway with three consecutive Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series wins won’t be sweeping this year’s crown jewel weekend, but Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., was a single position shy of Thursday’s second semifeature victory in an eventful 25-lapper that saw him fall back as far as 18th.

UNION, Ky. (Aug. 10) — It’s tough enough on Josh Rice’s competition that the 25-year-old can outrun just about anybody at his home track of Florence Speedway when his race car is top-notch.

ROSSBURG, Ohio — They say all’s well that ends well. While you wouldn’t know it looking at the carnage in the pit areas of Dream XXIX competitors Josh Rice and Mason Zeigler in the wee hours of Saturday morning at Eldora Speedway, the outlook for both drivers appeared more hopeful 90 minutes after they clashed on the 16th lap of Friday’s second semifeature.

UNION, Ky. (Aug. 11) — How would you describe how high-flying Florence Speedway favorite Josh Rice blazes around the high-banked, half-mile oval?

BECKLEY, W.Va. (July 16) — Josh Rice didn’t win Friday’s 2021 Schaeffer’s Southern Nationals opener at Beckley Motorsports Park in a vacuum. The first sentence that tumbled from his mouth in a post-race interview at his pit stall made it clear he completely grasped the moment.