Rice
was the 1973 USAC National Midget Champion and he quietly
amassed a number of major victories during an impressive
24-year USAC career which ended in retirement in 1991.
Turning to broadcasting, he became a familiar face as
part of ESPN’s “Larry and Gary Show” on the popular “Saturday
Night Thunder” telecasts.
In
1972 he gave the Shannon Brothers from Dayton, Ohio their
long-sought-after Midget Owners Championship, while placing
third in the point battle as a driver.
He won the prestigious “Hut Hundred” in 1970 driving
for Gene Willman and used his midget racing knowledge to
become the USAC Silver Crown Champion in both 1977 and 1981.
In 1985 he won two legs of the “4-Crown Nationals” at
the Eldora Speedway when he captured both the sprint and
Silver Crown events. He won the Silver Crown leg at Eldora
again in 1987.
He drove in two Indianapolis 500 Mile Races and was
voted the “Co-Rookie of the Year” with Rick Mears in 1978.
