Incinerator driver Ryan Rice now gets to live his dream of driving a monster truck in Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam competition, continuing a love of motorsports and off-roading that started in his teenage years. Rice grew up around four wheel vehicles. Rice says, “There was always one to play around with in the timber.” When Rice was 15 years old he built his first demo derby car. That would continue and is something that he has done every year since. Rice puts it this way: “I love smashing things up and trying to build a machine that can perform better and longer than the competition.” So from four wheelers to demo derbies to Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam, Rice is right at home behind the wheel and looks forward to thrilling the fans at every opportunity.

Q&A with Ryan Rice

MonsterJam.com: How did you get started competing on the Monster Jam circuit?

Ryan Rice:   Through persistence and asking a lot of veteran drivers a lot of questions.  I always wanted to be involved with monster trucks, so one day in 2007 I started running the General Hazard ride truck. I started to meet the other drivers and I was able to pick their brains on the mechanics of a race truck. When I felt I was ready to move forward into racing in 2009 I looked to Tom Meents, a guy that I personally am a big fan of, to help me in picking a perfect start to a truck.

MonsterJam.com: What do you enjoy doing while on the road with Monster Jam?

Ryan Rice:  I love meeting all the fans. Some I know from Facebook, etc. Others I am meeting for the first time. But I consider them all friends. I absolutely love being a part of the Monster Jam tour and seeing the fans and the smiles on the kids’ faces. I especially like it when one of them will come up to me after the show and tell me that they loved something I did or that I was their favorite. I love to put on a show. I don’t want to let my fans down.

MonsterJam.com: What do you do with your free time?

Ryan Rice:   I am a musician, a rocker. I like to write songs. I love riding quads or anything you can blast through the mud. And I love spending time with my kids.

MonsterJam.com: What is your greatest memory as a monster truck driver?

Ryan Rice:  I had dreamed of being a professional driver. And I always wanted to race the Monster Jam circuit. I will never forget the day we were invited to do a Monster Jam show and to display our truck in Vegas. That was a dream come true.

MonsterJam.com: Do you have any pre-show rituals that you run though?

Ryan Rice:   I usually drink an energy drink. And I always thank the man above and my crew for allowing me to live my dream.

MonsterJam.com: If you were not competing on the Monster Jam tour, what career path would you follow?

Ryan Rice:  I work construction. And I’m a journeyman with the operating engineers. So I would be doing jobs that I enjoy.

MonsterJam.com: What’s your favorite food?

Ryan Rice: P B and J.

MonsterJam.com: What’s your favorite movie?

Ryan Rice:  Billy Madison.

MonsterJam.com: What’s your favorite television show?

Ryan Rice:  Monster Jam of course.

MonsterJam.com: What’s your favorite color?

Ryan Rice:   Gray.

TRUCK INFO

Truck Name: Incinerator

Body:  2002 Chevy Silverado

Chassis: Williams designed Meents built custom

Engine size:  540 bbc

Transmission:  Powerglide

Shocks: Stage 2 overtime coil overs and stage 2 without, 20 inches of travel

Sponsors:  Overtime Performance. And my family. Without them I could never do it.