King Rhiley began his racing career in 1912 after becoming an automobile dealer in Oshkosh. Rhiley hired Jack Routson as his mechanic and together as a team they won more than 50 races over the next 16 years. His initial win was in his first race at Hemingford, and he is one of the early racers credited with creating the popularity of auto racing in North Platte and Western Nebraska. Rhiley and his Hudson Super-Six Special won the Pikes Peak Hill Climb in 1921 over the major factory teams of the day. His first son, King Jr., was born in Denver while Rhiley was making speed tests for the race. Rhiley raced against the best of the period in Western Nebraska, South Dakota and Colorado. After selling the auto dealership in 1928, Rhiley became a farmer and rancher in both Nebraska and South Dakota. He died on September 26, 1966, at his ranch near Creighton, S.D. He was inducted into the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2002.