Not many kids are faster than Carter Riddle in a go-kart.
At 12 years old, Carter, who lives in Arnold, already has begun making a name for himself in the go-kart-racing world. He is ranked 25 out of 1,610 other sprint kart drivers in the Briggs and Stratton series, a program that awards points to racers who hit their local tracks weekly and compete against fellow drivers in the U.S. and Canada.
“From a young age, Carter has been interested in anything with a motor or that goes fast,” his mother, Ricquel Riddle, said.
Carter never took a liking to more typical sports, like baseball, basketball or soccer, but both his parents are automobile enthusiasts, so his need for speed was fated, it seems.
In fourth grade, Carter’s friend and fellow go-kart racer, Lane Mayer, invited him to one of his races and introduced him to the Gateway Kartplex at the World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill., Ricquel said.
“At that point, Carter knew he wanted to be a part of this sport. We bought him his first kart immediately,” she said.
Go-kart racing is not a cheap hobby, Ricquel noted.
“Karts are around $5,500 initially. Then you add in a trailer, tools, race entry fees, race memberships and kart maintenance. That cost can be tripled throughout the season,” she said.
Fortunately, Carter’s father, Aaron Riddle, is a mechanic and can work on the go-kart himself, which helps to keep costs down, Ricquel said.
“Carter and Aaron spend many late nights in the garage preparing for upcoming races,” she said. “Also, they spend two to three nights a week at the track (at Gateway Kartplex) practicing.”
In 2020, when Carter was 10, he began his first season racing in the rookie division, and Trevor Eggemeyer of Troy, Ill., an 18-year-old mechanical engineering student, has been coaching the young driver for nearly a year.
“I saw Carter’s natural talent. He’s such a mature kid for his age, with such a good family,” Eggemeyer said. “Carter’s smooth driving style and race smarts set him apart from other kids his age.”
Carter has since moved up to the junior division, for kids ages 12-15, and won two big titles in the junior division this past season: the Ignite Championship and the SuperComp Championship. He also was runner-up in the Ignite Challenge.
Carter said a couple of his most memorable moments in racing were his first two wins before he raced in the rookie division.
“When I first started racing, I finished mid-pack for most races. But in 2019, after I won Race No. 7 and Race No. 8 in the SuperComp Series, it gave me the confidence I needed to push harder and believe in myself,” he said.
While Carter has experienced success as a young go-kart driver, he is not immune to the difficulties the sport poses.
He has been in several accidents while racing. In the worst one, he collided with another racer going 40 miles per hour.
“I went flying into the air and spun backwards into the wall,” Carter said.
Fortunately, no one was seriously injured in the incident, although Carter said he was sore for a few days after.
Even with the uncertainties of racing, Carter said he has strategies to try to remain in control.
“On the track, having patience and staying calm is important,” Carter said. “After the race, I always try to focus on the positives and remain humble no matter the outcome.”
Eggemeyer said he is excited to keep coaching Carter and believes the youngster will rise to the sport’s challenges.
“There’s a lot of quick kids moving up (to the junior league),” Eggemeyer said. “But Carter is calm, mature and makes smart decisions. As long as he keeps having fun, I think he can make it far. I really do.”
It appears Carter’s passion for racing will not wane anytime soon.
“My goal is to get my SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) license when I turn 14,” Carter said. “I would also like to attend a racing school, such as Skip Barber Racing School or Lucas Oil School of Racing, and transition to racing cars in the next few years.”
Carter said his ultimate goal is to compete in Formula One, the fastest and highest international racing class.
Despite the time he spends racing, Ricquel said her son doesn’t neglect his schoolwork at Fox Middle School, where he is in the Honor Society. He excels in all his classes and wants to study mechanical engineering one day.
But, his biggest passion is racing, as well as helping other kids learn the sport.
“On race days, you can usually find him helping other drivers work on their karts or being a mentor for other young drivers,” Ricquel said. “He puts others before himself.”
To keep up with Carter’s go-kart career, go to the Carter Riddle Racing Facebook page.