HISTORICAL MARKER TO BE UNVEILED FOR USAC CHAMP LARRY RICE

Three-time USAC National champion Larry Rice will be honored Wednesday, May 4 with the unveiling of a historical marker acknowledging the late racing legend’s life and career.

The public is invited to the ceremony which takes place at 2pm in Brownsburg, Indiana on the southwest corner of State Road 267 and Interstate 74, just north of the Bob Evans Restaurant.

Rice captured the 1973 USAC National Midget championship as well as the 1977 and 1981 USAC Silver Crown titles.  In his successful USAC racing career, Rice collected five Silver Crown, three National Sprint and 15 National Midget feature victories.

Rice also competed at the Indianapolis 500 in 1978 and 1979.  With his 11th place finish in 1978, Rice earned co “Rookie of the Year’ honors alongside future four-time “500” winner Rick Mears.

From 1990 to 2002, Rice was the color analyst for the popular “Thursday Night Thunder” and “Saturday Night Thunder” broadcasts on ESPN and ESPN2.

Rice passed away in May of 2009 after a bout with cancer at the age of 63.

This is the ninth of 19 markers to be completed by the Indiana Racing Memorial Association (IRMA) during Indiana’s bicentennial celebration in 2016.

The Indiana Racing Memorial Association, Inc. (IRMA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to recognize the historically significant individuals, events, businesses and race tracks that have made Indiana “The Racing Capital of the World.”

IRMA believes that the rich heritage of racing in the state of Indiana deserves greater awareness, engagement and recognition. To this end, IRMA is proposing that racing-themed historical markers be developed, officially designated and erected by its organization at appropriate locations throughout the state. More information is available at www.indianaracing.org and IRMA's Facebook page.