A graduate of University of Colorado, Buzz Calkins started racing go-carts at age 15, winning the Colorado Junior Go-Cart Championship in 1987. He then ran Formula Fords in 1989 and 1990, when his father ran the same series and was the Midwest Division SCCA Formula Ford Champion in 1990. His next step in his auto-racing career was running Indy Lights and Barber Saab Series for three years. Then in 1996, as a driver, he teamed up with his father as car owner to run the Indy Racing League Series. There, he won the IRL’s inaugural event – The Walt Disney 200, beating Tony Stewart by one second, and was co-champion of the Indy Racing League’s first season.
Calkins ran the Indianapolis 500 from 1996 through 2001, with a best finish of 10th in 1998. He retired from racing in 2001, after competing in the Indy Racing League for six seasons. Buzz currently lives in Denver with his wife and two daughters.