rpm.espn.com: Buzz Calkins

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Tuesday, December 4

Buzz Calkins
ESPN.com

Team: Bradley Motorsports
Nationality: United States

STATS

Year
Rank
Wins
Poles
Top 5
Top 10
Money
Best finish

2001 9 0 0 1 6 $797,025 3rd, Atlanta

Career 1 0 7 22 $3,324,228 1st, WDW

Buzz Calkins
Calkins

2001 Recap
The Good: The car was remarkably reliable throughout the season. Calkins suffered only two DNF's during the season, only one of which was mechanical. Now, if they could just improve their finishes.

Season Highlight: Calkins used stellar pit strategy and team work to finish third at Atlanta in April. He ran dry of gas on the backstretch of the final lap, but sputtered to the checkered flag. It was his best finish since New Hampshire, 1996 where he took a second.

The Bad: Calkins is etched into the history books as the winner of the very first IRL race in 1996. Too bad he still hasn't added a second win to his resumé.

Season Lowlight: Calkins may have had his best car of the season at Gateway in August, but a suspension problem after colliding in the pits with another car knocked him out of the race after only 40 laps.

Key Stat: In the last two seasons, Calkins has only finished in the top-five twice. He not started a race from a top-five position since January of 1997.

2002 Outlook
What needs to be done: Forget about finishing races. Calkins needs to step up those finishes even if it means several DNF's. Calkins has never returned to his early IRL success despite significant team re-organizations.

The family aspects of Calkins' ride ensures his retention as a driver, but it also diminishes the effects of being on a "hot seat" and using performance to preserve your ride.

Prediction: This team has the potential to win. Calkins is well liked by fans and fellow competitors, but racing is not a personality contest. These are issues that both Buzz and his dad Brad are certainly mulling over as they prepare for their sixth season in the IRL.

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