Steve Rikert Explained

Steve Rikert
Nationality: American
Birth Date:5 August 1969
Birth Place:Rhinebeck, New York
Last Series:USF2000
Years Active:1997-1999
Teams:Tatuus
Richard Morgan Racing
Starts:29
Wins:1
Poles:1
Best Finish:3rd
Year:1999
Prev Series Years:1997-1999
1994-1997

Steve Rikert (born August 5, 1969 in Rhinebeck, New York) is a former racing driver who competed in the Barber Dodge Pro Series and the USF2000.

Career

After racing in the regional Skip Barber Eastern Series, Rikert moved to the Barber Saab Pro Series in 1994. The New Yorker finished outside the top ten in the 1994 Barber Saab Pro Series season. The Skip Barber Racing School graduate had a decent run in the 1996 Barber Dodge Pro Series season. Rikert finished fifth at Watkins Glen International. He earned points on several occasions finishing thirteenth in final standings. Rikert ran only six Barber Dodge Pro Series races in 1997.

The New York native first made his USF2000 debut at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. In a field of fifty drivers, Rikert finished seventeenth.[1] He also participated in the season finale at Watkins Glen. For 1998 Rikert signed with the factory Tatuus team in the USF2000. The New Yorker finished tenth in the standings, best of the factory entered Tatuus chassis. For 1999 Rikert made the switch to the dominant Van Diemen chassis. The American won one race at Atlanta Motor Speedway from start to finish. The race was marred by a red flag after a heavy crash involving Larry Foyt and five other.[2] The Richard Morgan Racing driver scored another two podium finishes. He eventually finished third in the championship standings, behind Marc-Antoine Camirand and series champion Dan Wheldon.

Rikert previously owned an automobile repair shop in his native town of Rhinebeck. The business was acquired by Northside Auto Body, an auto shop based in Poughkeepsie, NY, in 2023.[3]

Complete motorsports results

American Open-Wheel racing results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest race lap)

Complete USF2000 National Championship results

YearEntrant 1234567891011121314PosPoints
1997WDWSTPPIRDSC1DSC2SAVPPICHA1CHA2MID
17
WGI
23
WGI
11
N.C.N.C.
1998TatuusWDWPIRHMS1
10
HMS2
6
WGI
6
WGI
8
MID1
26
MIN
5
CHA1
5
CHA2
6
MID2
45
ATL
17
PPI
32
PPI
7
10th167
1999Richard Morgan RacingPIR
3
CHA1
9
CHA2
7
MOS
5
MOS
4
MID
3
ATL
1
ROA1
8
ROA2
7
CTR
16
MID
6
PPI
11
SEB1
10
SEB2
14
3rd201

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mid-Ohio Results (Race #10) . USFF2000.com . January 17, 2016 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20010421103852/http://www.usff2000.com/PastSeasons/97race10.htm . April 21, 2001.
  2. Web site: RIKERT TAKES FIRST WIN IN U.S. F2000 NORTEL NETWORKS DASH RACE SHORTENED AFTER MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT . Motorsport.com . January 17, 2016.
  3. Web site: Northside Auto Body . Northside Auto Body. January 5, 2024.