George Rice

Competitor
CLASS OF 2012 | Pioneers
Veterans Committee Selection

George Viola from Milford, CT got started in racing piloting sprint cars. When he decided to try midgets, he registered under the name George Rice as to shield him from violating sprint car club rules that did not permit drivers to race midgets.

George was the Indoor championship at the Bronx Coliseum in 1941. 1947 was arguably his finest season, winning championships at Danbury Racearena & West Haven Speedway in CT and Deer Park Speedway in Long Island, NY. He was also crowned the ARDC Midget Champion.

During his career, he also scored wins at Thompson Speedway, Newfield Park, Cherry Park Speedway, Stafford Speedway and Bridgeport’s Candlelight Stadium.

George Rice passed away on February 26, 2003 just four days after his 89th birthday. He was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2009 and the NEAR Hall of Fame in a special Pioneers induction ceremony in 2012.