28-07-2025
- Automotive
- Chicago Tribune
Homewood officer back in the police chase as departments race for Special Olympics
Homewood police Officer Ken Norbut has a new appreciation when he watches NASCAR drivers on TV.
Norbut, who recently joined the force in Homewood after 25 years in Chicago Ridge, has driven in just two auto races in his lifetime. The 51-year-old competed in the Illinois Special Olympics Five-O race at Grundy County Speedway in Morris the past two years representing the Chicago Ridge department.
So, when NASCAR stars such as Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin and the others race around the tracks for hours during an afternoon or evening event, Norbut has a keen admiration for them.
'One hundred percent I do,' Norbut said. 'Those guys, man. We only do 25 laps. It is tiring. When that adrenaline wears off and you are sore the next day because you are getting rocked and rolled in the car, it's something else.
'You do appreciate the NASCAR drivers. They are athletes themselves.'
Norbut is planning on getting rocked and rolled again for a third time – this time representing the Homewood department.
This year's running of the Five-O is back at the Grundy County track. It gets rolling after the gates open at 4 p.m. Saturday in Morris.
As of Friday, Norbut was among the top 10 in donations collected for Special Olympics in connection with the race, joining Hometown's Nate Haubenreiser, Midlothian's Adam Thibo, Orland Hills' James Molloy, Crestwood's David Alexander, retired Chicago Ridge member Jake Cholke and Chicago Ridge's Jon Hill.
Last year's event raised $190,000, and donations for this year's race are being collected at
Cholke is the defending champion of the race. In 2024, he won a close battle over state police officer Howard Hanson.
'I was going to do everything I had to do on that last lap,' Cholke said in a news release issued by the speedway. 'I saw him (Hanson) out there and I had to run him up high.'
The race is made up of police personnel around the state driving Ford Crown Victorias.
Norbut drove a 2003 Crown Vic in his first two years of racing, but this year, he has a 2010 model with the No. 13 on it. His daughter, Zoe Monroe, picked the number.
'I know that 13 is unlucky but I asked her to pick it and she picked No. 13 because she is a Taylor Swift fan and she said Taylor Swift's favorite number is 13. So, I'm going with it,' Norbut said.
The old car is not gone, It is staying in the family.
Norbut's brother, Chicago Ridge officer Hank Dropkowski, will take that car and race at the track in Morris so it's possible the two brothers could be trading some paint.
In 2023, Norbut finished 14th out of 18 competitors and was knocked out of the race after 22 laps with engine woes. In 2024 he was able to complete the race, finishing in 8th place.
Norbut said it didn't take much convincing to allow his new bosses in Homewood to let him represent the force in his third race at Grundy.
So the 2010 No. 13 car will be making its racing debut.
'Crown Vic racing is huge around the country because it's supposed to be this affordable car,' he said. 'But it's still expensive. But it's still good as opposed to other expensive cars out there.'
He said he doesn't mind the expense of maintaining a car that he competes with just once a year. Norbut is a proponent of Special Olympics Illinois, which offers competition in a plethora of sports for athletes of various abilities.
'I was involved with Special Olympics for the Cop on Top, the Torch Run and Polar Plunge,' Norbut said of three of the biggest fundraisers police are involved in for Special Olympics. 'This race is something else to be a part of in giving back to the community.
'With the Special Olympics athletes, I wanted to do something more. You know what? Let's go out and do it. It looked fun.'
As it turned out, it was fun indeed.
'It's good camaraderie,' Norbut said. 'The other police come out. The athletes come on the track with us and we get to meet them. It's a great day.
'It was like a no-brainer for me. Get in a car and raise some money.'
