Larry Rice

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

Racing career

Rice'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, Rice 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.

Rice 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.

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

Open wheel career 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. Rice followed up by winning the 1973 USAC National midget driver's championship himself.

Complete USAC Championship Car results 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 INDYDNQ MIL POC MCH MIL MCH TRE TRE PHX-0 1978 PHXDNQ ONT TWS TRE9 INDY11 MOS MIL POC MCH ATL TWS MIL ONT MCH TRE SIL BRH PHX 32nd 180 1979 ONT TWS INDY19 MIL POC TWS MIL-0 1981-82 INDYDNQ POC21 ILL2 DUQ13 ISF1 INDYDNQ 9th 730 1982–83 ISF DSF NAZ INDY 11th 320 1983-84 DUQ8 INDY 14th 100

Complete PPG Indy Car Series results

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pts Ref 1979 S&M Electric PHX ATL ATL INDY19 TRE TRE MCH MCH WGL TRE ONT MCH ATL PHX 23rd 105 1980 Rhoades Competition ONT INDY MIL POC MDO MCH WGL MIL ONT MCH MEX PHXDNQ-0 1983 ATL INDYDNP MIL CLE MCH ROA POC RIV MDO MCH CPL LAG PHX-0

Indianapolis 500 results Year Chassis Engine Start Finish 1978 Lightning Offenhauser 30th 11th 1979 Lightning Offenhauser 23rd 19th