George Rice

George J. Viola (February 22, 1914 – February 26, 2003), better known by his racing name George Rice, was a midget race car driver from Milford, Connecticut.

Personal life

George fathered two daughters, Sarah and Glorianna, and a son, Edward, with his wife Bess.

Racing career Rice was born George J. Viola. When he started racing, he drove sprint cars, not midgets. When he heard about midgets, he wanted to try them but his sprint car club at that time don't permit drivers to compete in other series. Viola took the last name of his friend Charlie Rice to become "George Rice". When his younger brother, John, decided to race midgets also, he took the name Johnny Rice and the pair became known as the "Rice Brothers".