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St. Croix Casino becomes title sponsor of Rice Lake Speedway’s Little Dream

RICE LAKE, WI - The 32nd annual Street Stock Little Dream Race will be held at Rice Lake Speedway on Tuesday, July 28. There will be some significant changes for the 2026 event.

First and foremost, St. Croix Casino from nearby Turtle Lake, WI has agreed to become the title sponsor of the event for the 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 seasons. The event has been rebranded as the St. Croix Casino Street Stock Little Dream for the next five years.

In addition, several otehr exciting changes are being made to the richest Street Stock race in the country.

The feature will now have 27 starters, increased from the previous 24.

What was previously called the Non-Qualifier race will be renamed the Last Chance Race, from which the top three finishers will be given the choice to either accept their Last Chance Race payout, or instead accept a starting spot in the Little Dream feature race. In previous years, only the winner had this opportunity.

Also, the Last Chance Race will now include 24 starters rather than 16, which will give more drivers the chance to race their way into the night’s 40-lap feature.

The Last Chance Race will be $1,000 to win and $300 to start, which is double the previous winning amount and triple the previous starting amount.

Perhaps the most exciting news is that all of the 27 feature racers will be guaranteed at least $750 to start - compared to $300 in the past.

There will be several bonuses instituted as well.

Three $250 Long Tow Awards will be available; those will be given to the three drivers who tow the farthest from home to race at the event.

There will also be a $250 Hard Charger Award provided to the driver who passes the most cars in the feature race.

A pre-entry opportunity will be offered this year, so drivers can pre-enter for $100 prior to July 19 to show their commitment to attending the event. Pre-entry details will be announced soon.

The Little Dream winner’s purse will continue to be determined by business and fan donations made before the event, at the track on race night, and online.

Event organizers stress that the only way last year’s record $30,100 first-place payout can be broken is for fans and businesses to come to the event in person or watch and donate online on race night.

Fan and sponsor donations are what make the event amazing and unique each year. The winner’s purse has grown every year since the first Little Dream was held.

Event promoter Chris Stepan of FYE Motorsports said, “What an amazing thing the St. Croix Casino has done to come on board and support the Little Dream. The event is truly one of the most unique events in all of motorsports and we couldn’t be happier to have such a great partner...for at least the next five years. Our goal with the event is to strive to break the previous year’s payout record, so all eyes are on at least a $30,101 payday for this year’s winner. With what the casino has offered, we can focus harder on that as everyone else will see considerable increases to their take-home money at the end of the night already.”

Rice Lake Speedway co-owner Kolby Keihl stated, “I just want the Little Dream to be around for years and years to come, and to get as many cars as we can.

So getting the St. Croix casino on board is a huge deal to be able to increase start pay and add other bonuses and cool awards to the event. I do wish I was taller than the turtle though.”

Will LaPointe, CEO of St. Croix Casino, echoed the excitement. “As a proud partner of the Rice Lake Speedway and this FYE Motorsports event, we’re incredibly excited to partner with the Little Dream race to literally turn everyone’s little dream into reality, well into the next decade. What an exciting time to be at the track!”

You are sure to see a great field of cars and be part of a big crowd on Tuesday, July 28 at the 32nd annual St. Croix Casino Little Dream.

More information can be found at www.RiceLakeSpeedway.net and at www.FYEMotorsports.com.

The event will be livestreamed online at www.WatchFYE.tv for fans unable to be at the track in person. If you can’t get to the event but still wish to donate to the purse, contact Chris Stepan directly at (715) 497-8916, Scott Tiefs at (715) 296-2839 or Kolby Kiehl at (534) 208-7828. In addition, there will be a donate option on the livestream broadcast for those who watch the event online and want to get involved in the show.