Tim Cronin – Shaw Local News Network correspondent

For an Indianapolis 500 that started off like a Saturday night trophy dash in a quarter-mile bull ring, with cars bouncing off each other and the walls of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway early and often, it ended in sublime fashion.

Plainfield South qualified seven out of the Class 3A Minooka Sectional. Athletes from Ottawa, Bradley-Bourbonnais, Joliet West, Minooka, Yorkville, Joliet Central and Kankakee also advanced.

In last-chance qualifying for the Indianapolis 500, Rinus VeeKay was barely faster than rookie Jacob Abel, his teammate at Plainfield-based Dale Coyne Racing, and will start last in the field of 33 come Sunday.

The NHRA Route 66 Nationals return this weekend to Joliet, with high-speed racing running Friday through Sunday.

Oswego's Dontrell Young shines with top state track times at conference meet.

18-year-old Evan Cooley's run Saturday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course ended early.

Plainfield North finished with 147 points to Oswego East’s 119.5, with host Minooka third at 116 in the Southwest Prairie Conference Meet on Wednesday.

Lincoln-Way West easily won its home meet Friday with 219 points to Lincoln-Way Central’s 154.5. Lincoln-Way East, with its squad spread across three meets on Friday, was third with 64 points. Providence (39.5) took sixth.

As outdoor season revs up, here is a look at the 2025 boys track and field season across the Herald-News area.

As outdoor season begins in earnest, here is a look at the 2025 girls track and field season across the Herald-News area.

Lincoln-Way East’s boys basketball team took its 74-67 Class 4A regional final loss at home to Rich Township hard.

Lucas Andresen scored 10 points and pulled down 11 rebounds, and all five Lincoln-Way Central starters scored in double figures as the Knights beat Joliet Catholic 80-52 for their 20th win of the season.

The final score doesn’t really tell the story of how dominating East St. Louis was in beating Richards 48-0 on Saturday to win its 6A semifinal game and set up a championship showdown with Geneva next weekend.

Richards faces East St. Louis in the semifinals of the 2024 Class 6A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive correspondent Tim Cronin will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Could Marist’s offense hang with Loyola’s high-octane attack? The answer: For three quarters, it could. After that, thanks to a couple of major miscues, the Ramblers took just enough command to eke out a 24-20 victory.