Buzz Bits- Texas notes and quotes on Buzz Calkins and Bradley Motorsports

Buzz Bits - Notes on Buzz Calkins and Bradley Motorsports
Chevy 500 - Texas Motor Speedway
#12 Bradley Food Marts/ Sav-O-Mat Dallara-Oldsmobile


in memory

In memory of the events of September 11, 2001, Buzz Calkins asked Bell, the
manufacturer of his racing helmet, to create a special paint scheme for this
weekend's Chevy 500 at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS). The new paint job, which
replaces his long-held design that carries the colors of his native
Colorado, with the red, white and blue of the American flag. The design
reflects Calkins' deep patriotic beliefs and his heart-felt emotions
surrounding the attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.


to the point

Buzz Calkins opened the 2001 Indy Racing Northern Light Series season with a
ninth at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR). He followed that up with a
third at Atlanta two races later. In the most recent event, the Delphi Indy
300 at Chicagoland Speedway, he raced to ninth. Throughout the first 12
races of the 13-race schedule, Calkins has remained in the series' top-ten
of driver points. He currently is tenth in points with 222 markers. He is in
a tight race with as many as six other drivers for one of the top-eight
positions in the final driver points standings going into this weekend's
season finale at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS).


checkered flag

Buzz Calkins is the Northern Light Series' most consistent performer. In his
career to date, since the IRL began in 1996 when he won the inaugural event
at Walt Disney World Speedway, the Denver native has finished 40 of the 52
races he has started (76.92%); 40.38% of the time in the top-ten. In 2001,
Calkins has taken the checkered flag in 11 of the first 12 races (91.66%)
with one top-five and five top-tens. Of the 2,450 laps that could be run in
2001, Calkins has completed 2,226 (90.85%).


texas time

The #12 Bradley Food Marts/ Sav-O-Mat Dallara has raced eight times at TMS
since the Indy Racing League came to the Fort Worth track in 1997. He has
started as high as 10th (June 1997, and both races in 1998). He has finished
fourth in the June race in 2000 competing for the win in what is considered
by many as the IRL's most competitive race. He qualified 16th at TMS earlier
this year and raced up through the field until finishing 15th. He won
$37,400 for the effort.


stay in school

Buzz Calkins is the only active IRL driver to hold a Masters of Business
Administration (MBA), a degree completed last year while competing in the
Northern Light Series fulltime. Many ask why a successful race driver,
already holding an undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado in
economics and history, would return to school to pursue a degree that, if
all goes well, he will never need. The main reason for returning for his
MBA, at one of the country's premier schools, the Kellogg Graduate School of
Management at Northwestern University, was for something to fall back on.
However, he has no plans of utilizing it soon.


HANS on

Buzz Calkins has been using the Head And Neck Support (HANS) system in the
Bradley Food Marts/ Sav-O-Mat car since May of this year. Following some
minor adjustments to the car's headrest to accommodate the safety feature
designed to prevent basal skull injuries in auto racing accidents, Buzz has
worn the piece of equipment everyday since. The HANS device attaches to the
helmet via two straps and a collar that fits over the driver's shoulders and
is kept in place by the safety harness' shoulder straps. Calkins has had no
difficulty in adapting to the system and wears it without problem.


Buzz Bites - Quotes by Buzz Calkins and Bradley Motorsports
Chevy 500 - Texas Motor Speedway
#12 Bradley Food Marts/ Sav-O-Mat Dallara-Oldsmobile


Buzz Calkins, driver
(about the choice to postpone the Chevy 500)
"I am certainly disappointed we won't be racing but, in the big sense of the
things I would be more disappointed if we had. With all that has happened it
is simply not the right thing to do. Our thoughts and prayers are with the
families of those lost in New York and Washington D.C., those who are still
missing and with those heroes who are helping in the rescue process. That is
where our focus should be, not on racing. We'll come back and race when the
time is right. This was not the right time."

(about the Chevy 500's impact on his points position)
"This has always been a good track for Bradley Motorsports so we hope that
we can end the year on
a good note and end up solidly in the top ten in points."

(about the impact that the recent re-paving of Texas Motor Speedway will
have on the Indy
Racing Northern Light Series event)
"It is difficult to say what the pavement changes will do to the speeds at
TMS. If it is more abrasive as new
pavement often is, I would anticipate the speeds to go up because the car
won't slide as much and will accelerate better. However if the pavement
isn't as abrasive then the speeds will probably be about the same."

(about why the Texas Motor Speedway is so conducive to wheel-to-wheel
competition)
"The extra banking holds the car better allowing for it to go through the
corners more comfortably at higher speeds. Also, the extra downforce that is
required at the mile-and-a-half tracks makes the cars more comfortable and
gives us the ability to run multiple lines."

(about the momentum generated from the Delphi Indy 300)
"I think we figured out some handling issues with the Bradley Food Marts/
Sav-O-Mat Dallara at Chicago. These changes should carry over to Texas and
hopefully allow us to be very competitive for the season closer."

(about the off-season changes and how they have worked throughout the 2001
season)
"It is kind of frustrating because we made a lot of positive changes during
the off season that have allowed us to finish more races this year because
of better reliability. However, we haven't been as competitive as we were
last year due to handling issues. If we can get both of these things working
at the same time, we should be in good shape."

(about the changes the team anticipates making going into the 2002 season)
"The key for us to be more competitive next year is to get the handling of
the car better and more consistent. We have made headway over the last
couple races so hopefully we can continue this through the off season."

For more on Buzz Calkins and Bradley Motorsports, please visit
www.BuzzCalkins.com .