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

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.

Announcing career

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

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

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

Complete USAC Championship Car results

Complete PPG Indy Car Series results

Indianapolis 500 results

References