The Drive with Lon Tay & Derek Piper

05/27/25 Hour 2: Brian Ames recaps the Indy 500 and is Lon losing his mind?!

Brian Ames joins the guys to recap The Indy 500. Plus, is Lon getting lazy or losing his mind? Your texts help us decide. It's The Drive!

05/27/25 Hour 1: Jeff Jones talks Cardinals & Cubs, We answer your texts, and more

Jeff Jones from The Belleville-News Democrat joins the show to discuss the Cardinals keeping pace with the Cubs. Plus we answer your texts, recap the Indy 500, and NBA playoffs.

05/23/25 HOUR 2: Brian Ames talks Indy 500, We Talk Fast Animals, And Friday Toasts!

Brian Ames joins us to discuss the 109th Greatest Spectacle in Racing - The Indianapolis 500! Plus the Coca-Cola 600, the fastest animals in the world, and our Friday Toasts! 

05/23/25 HOUR 1: Bielema's Contract vs Other Coaches, Pipes vs T-Ball, and Tawny Kitaen vs Baseball Players

The guys compare Bret Bielema's contract with the Top 10 highest paid coaches in college football. Plus, Lon and Kurtis give Pipes advice on T-Ball. And which MLB player did Tawny Kitaen (from the Whitesnake video) beat up back in the day?

05/22/25 HOUR 2: Cubs & Cards Talk, Michael Jordan Going To NBC, and More

Are the guys buying the Cubs as a playoff contender already? Plus, what can the Cardinals do to keep pace and win the division. Also, Michael Jordan is going to NBC. We chat about his potential role and more.

05/22/25 HOUR 1: A Breakdown of Nasir Rankin's Signing, Game 1 Pacers vs Knicks, and More

Nasir Rankin had an all-timer presser to announce he's joining The Illini. We discuss all the hat tosses.

Plus, is Bret Bielema putting together one of his best teams ever? And we chat about Game 1 of Pacers vs. Knicks. NO CHOKE! It's The Drive.

05/21/25 Our Live Reaction to Nasir Rankin Commiting to Illinois Football

Lon's back in the studio with Derek and Kurtis. Get our live reaction to Nasir Rankin's epic commitment to Illinois Football. Plus, why Dan Hartlieb had every right to be upset with today's Illini Baseball game, and more.

05/20/25 Hour 2: Breaking News on Brad Underwood's New Contract & more

Details emerge on Brad Underwood's new contract, and the guys discuss the expectations for the next several seasons. Plus Cubs & Cards 2 months in, we answer your texts, and more!

05/20/25 HOUR 1: Isaac Trotter from CBS Sports, Illini Football Recruiting News, and Recruiting Chicago

Isaac Trotter of CBS Sports joins the show for a great chat, some big news on Illini Football recruiting, and does recruiting Chicago matter as much as it once did? The fellas break it down!

5/19/25 Hour 2: Scott Dochterman Joins The Show

Scott Dochterman from The Athletic joins the boys to discuss all things Big Ten, Illini, Iowa, Caitlin Clark, and more!

5/19/25 Hour1: Joey Wagner's Draft Experience, Bret Bielema's Biggest Wins, & Illini Football Schedule

Joey Wagner joins Pipes and new guy Kurtis Allen to chat about his NFL draft experience. Plus, the guys break down Bret Bielema's biggest wins so far and look at the upcoming Illini Football schedule.

5/16/25 Hour 2: Is it still worth it to invest in high school recruits?; 247 Sports' Big Ten QB rankings

Derek and Kyle discuss whether it's even worth it to invest in high school recruiting anymore in the current landscape and what they anticipate the Illini's approach to recruiting being going forward. Later, the guys react to 247 Sports' Big Ten quarterback rankings for 2025.

5/16/25 Hour 1: Have brawls and bad blood gone away in baseball?; PGA Championship, NBA Playoffs thoughts

Derek and Kyle talk some baseball and discuss why we haven't seen very many bad blood rivalries and benches-clearing brawls in baseball in recent seasons. Later, the guys share their thoughts on the first two days of the PGA Championship and potential NBA conference finals matchups.

5/15/25 Hour 2: Chris Block (Chris Block Racing Stables) on Preakness, if Triple Crown schedule needs tweaked; New book details Caleb Williams draft drama

Chris Block, owner of Chris Block Racing Stables joins the show to share his insight into the Preakness field and if the Triple Crown schedule needs to be adjusted to allow for more horses to chase the Triple Crown. Later, Lon and Derek discuss Illini football's season opener getting moved to Friday and the new book coming out that details drama surrounding Caleb Williams and the Bears before the draft.

5/15/25 Hour 1: Underwood, Bielema receive contract extensions; Illini & Tennessee extend non-conference series

Lon and Derek discuss the announced contract extensions for Brad Underwood and Bret Bielema and what a realistic expectation should be for Underwood each season. Later, the guys share their thoughts on Illinois & Tennessee finalizing an agreement to meet for another two seasons in Nashville and Chicago and who else they'd like to see the Illini schedule.

5/13/25 Hour 2: Joe Henricksen (City/Suburban Hoops Report) on Brunson's ascension, state of Illinois high school hoops

City/Suburban Hoops Report and the Chicago Sun-Times's Joe Henricksen joins the show to talk Jalen Brunson's ascension into an NBA star, the current state of Illinois high school hoops, and some old Illini hoops recruiting insight. Later, the guys look back at the loaded list of 2016 recruiting class visitors the Illini brought in.

5/13/25 Hour 1: Pete Rose, Shoeless Joe MLB ban lifted; Next Question: Illini hoops

Lon and Derek react to the news of MLB lifting its ban for Pete Rose, Joe Jackson and other deceased figures, making them eligible for the Hall of Fame. Later, intern Daniel Herzog leads the guys through Next Question: Illini hoops edition.

5/12/25 Hour 2: Looking back on the COVID-era of sports; What to make of KJ's draft projection

Lon and Derek take a look back at what the COVID era of sports looked like, including virtual drafts and the canceled NCAA Tournament. Later, the guys discuss what to make of Kasparas Jakucionis's draft stocking following a negative projection by The Athletic.

5/12/25 Hour 1: Could Cubs/Cardinals actually be playing for the division?; Illinois athletics' most recent national championships

Lon and Derek discuss the Cardinals' 8-game win streak and whether the Cubs/Cardinals series this season could actually be for the NL Central crown. Later, the guys go back and look at Illinois' national championships in athletics on the heels of Illini golf's quest for one.

5/9/25 Hour 2: Biggest potential surprise for Illini hoops next year; How much personality will this team have?

Lon and Derek discuss what they think the biggest surprise could be for Illinois basketball, either player or team-related. Later, the guys share their thoughts on what the mix of personalities on the Illini hoops team could look like.