April 16
Florence Speedway,
Union, KY
Sanction: Unsanctioned Supers (Spring 50) - $10,000
Information provided by: Staff and track reports (last updated April 17, 8:17 pm)
New car carries Rice to Spring 50 triumph
Spring 50
- Josh Rice
- Bobby Pierce
- Tyler Erb
- Ricky Thornton Jr.
- Cory Hedgecock
- Austyn Mills
- Ashton Winger
- Devin Gilpin
- Brandon Sheppard
- Scott James
- Spencer Hughes
- Zack Dohm
- Daulton Wilson
- Justin Duty
- Garrett Smith
- Darrell Lanigan
- Garrett Alberson
- Jason Jameson
- James Rice
- Kody Evans
- Kent Robinson
- Robby Hensley
- Dustin Nobbe
- Bill Sheets
presented by
Ryan Roberts
Josh Rice heads for a $10,000 victory in Florence’s Spring 50.
What won the race: Picking up where he left off last year at his home track, Josh Rice of Verona, Ky., overtook Bobby Pierce for the lead on lap 19 and turned back Pierce’s late-race challenge to capture Saturday’s 46th annual Spring 50 at Florence Speedway. Rice beat Pierce by 1.665 seconds to earn $10,000 for his first-ever victory in the oval’s traditional early-season event.
Key notes: Debuting a new XR1 Rocket Chassis, the fourth-starting Rice made his big move on a lap-16 restart, shooting past Tyler Erb for second in turns one and two and passing Pierce three circuits later for the top spot. … Pierce, who led laps 1-18, mounted a late charge as Rice dealt with lapped traffic; on lap 47 Pierce used a slider to surge ahead of Rice in turn two, but his momentum carried him to the wall and Rice bolted back ahead for good. … Erb settled for third place while Ricky Thornton Jr., last year's Spring 50 winner, finished fourth and 14th-starter Cory Hedgecock was fifth. ... Four caution flags slowed the event, the most notable coming on lap 26 when Brandon Sheppard — driving a Riggs Motorsports car — pulled up lame with a right-rear flat tire as he was battling for fifth with Darrell Lanigan. ... Lanigan was running fifth when he pulled off on lap 43. ... Erb's fast time in qualifying earned him $500 from Slicker Graphics in honor of late Florence fan Jeff Perry, who died in 2021. ... The Spring 50, originally scheduled last month but postponed by weather, opened Florence's season.
On the move: Ashton Winger of Hampton, Ga., started 21st and finished seventh.
Winner's sponsors: Rice’s Rocket Chassis is powered by a Jay Dickens Racing Engine and sponsored by Sunesis Construction, Rice Brothers Racing, Extreme Sportswear, Brucebilt Performance, Integra and Valvoline.
Points chase: The event opened Florence’s season after multiple rainouts.
Current weather: Scattered Clouds, 59°F
Car count: 37
Fast qualifier: Tyler Erb
Time: 16.944 seconds
Polesitter: Tyler Erb
Heat race winners: Tyler Erb, Darrell Lanigan, Bobby Pierce, Josh Rice
Consolation race winners: Ashton Winger
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.
