Larry Rice (24 March 1946 – 20 May 2009) was an American racing driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series.[1] He was the 1973 USAC National midget driver's champion[2] and won the USAC Silver Crown series in 1977 and 1981.[3] He was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1993.

Racing career

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Rice in his driver's suit

Larry's father Bob got him started in racing. Bob purchased Larry's first race car, a Kurtis Craft Half Midget from Bob Cunningham in Covington, Indiana prior to turning twelve years old. Larry went to Modified Midget racing at the Logansport, Indiana track from 1965-1967. While in modified midget racing Larry and his father introduced the first car with a suspension system in this type of racing. It was made by Kurtis out of Indianapolis, Indiana. Eventually all cars would have suspension systems on them.

Larry graduated from college with a teaching degree. He taught school briefly while racing the modified midget racing circuit. He was fondly known as "The Flying School Teacher" due to his ability to win races.

Larry's father Bob worked as a pit crew member for various race teams at the Indianapolis 500 in the 1970s.

Open wheel career

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Rice had a major win when he won the 1970 Hut Hundred. Rice finished third in 1972 USAC National Midget championship, helping his team (Shannon Brothers) win the owner's championship.[2] Rice followed up by winning the 1973 USAC National midget driver's championship himself.[2] Rice was also the 1977 and 1981 USAC Silver Crown Series champion. He won the Silver Crown and sprint car portions of the 4 Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway in 1985. He won his second Silver Crown portion at Eldora in 1987.

Championship car career

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He raced in 5 seasons (1974, and 1978–1979, and 1981), with 9 combined career starts, including the 1978 and 1979 Indianapolis 500 and finished in the top ten 3 times. He was co-named the 1978 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, along with Rick Mears, for his 11th-place finish.

Announcing career

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After he stopped racing in 1991, he became the color analyst on ESPN's Saturday Night Thunder program.[2] The program featured midget, sprint, and Silver Crown racing. He also worked as ESPN's regular analyst on IRL races. He was known for constantly pointing out when a driver "had to get out of the throttle" to avoid hitting another car.

Insurance business

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Rice later worked for K&K Insurance, specialising in motorsport insurance, and with his son Robbie (who also raced), started their own insurance organisation for motorsport, Short Track Independent Drivers and Associates (STIDA.COM).

Death

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Rice died from lung cancer on 20 May 2009.[4]

Complete USAC Championship Car results

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Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Pos Points
1974 ONT ONT
ONT
PHX TRE
DNQ
INDY
DNQ
MIL
24
POC
MCH MIL MCH TRE TRE PHX - 0
1978 PHX
DNQ
ONT
TWS
TRE
9
INDY
11
MOS MIL POC
DNQ
MCH
DNQ
ATL TWS MIL ONT
MCH TRE SIL BRH PHX
32nd 180
1979 ONT
TWS
INDY
19
MIL
POC
TWS
MIL
- 0
1981-82 INDY
DNQ
POC
21
ILL
2
DUQ
13
ISF
1
INDY
DNQ
9th 730
1982–83 ISF
6
DSF
6
NAZ
INDY
DNQ
11th 320
1983-84 DUQ
8
INDY
14th 100

Complete PPG Indy Car Series results

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Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pos. Pts Ref
1979 S&M Electric PHX
10
ATL ATL
14
INDY
19
TRE
16
TRE
10
MCH MCH WGL TRE ONT MCH ATL PHX 23rd 105 [5]
1980 Rhoades Competition ONT
INDY
MIL
POC
MDO
MCH
WGL
MIL
ONT
MCH
MEX
PHX
DNQ
- 0 [6]
1983 ATL
INDY
DNP
MIL
CLE
MCH
ROA
POC
RIV
MDO
MCH
CPL
LAG
PHX
- 0 [7]

Indianapolis 500 results

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Year Chassis Engine Start Finish
1978 Lightning Offenhauser 30th 11th
1979 Lightning Offenhauser 23rd 19th

References

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  1. ^ Miller, Robin (May 20, 2009). "Miller: Saying Goodbye To Larry Rice". SpeedTV.com. Speed Channel. Archived from the original on May 25, 2009. Retrieved May 21, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d "Larry Rice". National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on November 18, 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2009.
  3. ^ "Larry Rice, 63". USACRacing.com. USAC. May 21, 2009. Archived from the original on May 25, 2009. Retrieved May 21, 2009.
  4. ^ "Former Indy driver, broadcaster Larry Rice dies at 63". USAToday.com. USA Today. Associated Press. May 21, 2009. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2009.
  5. ^ "Larry Rice – 1983 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  6. ^ "Larry Rice – 1980 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  7. ^ "Larry Rice – 1983 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Indianapolis 500
Rookie of the Year

1978
With Rick Mears
Succeeded by