Pierce was born and raised in the mountains east of San Diego in Southern California, where he was an avid hockey player from the age of 5.

Eventually the pull of family and warm weather drew Pierce back to Southern California.

Pierce put the skills he had acquired in Idaho to use performing welding jobs at his own small business.

Jack Miller, the founder of MasterCraft, sought out Pierce's welding expertise to manufacture the company's tubular seat frames.

He co-drove the Class 10 car of Tom Ridings in the 2004 Tecate SCORE Baja 500 and was immediately hooked.

He went directly into the premier Pro2 Unlimited class in a Johnny Kaiser-built Alpha truck previously raced by Jerry Whelchel for Chet Huffman Motorsports.