Lucas Oil founder Forrest Lucas, whose role in supporting virtually every major American racing discipline including short course, has passed away at the age of 83.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of our founder, Forrest Lucas,” began the company’s announcement on Saturday. “Forrest’s boundless drive for Lucas Oil, his generosity and love for his family, friends and community defined his life. While we grieve this tremendous loss, we take comfort in knowing his legacy will continue to inspire our team and all who knew him.”

Born in 1942, Lucas was a truck driver who eventually owned multiple of them. Due to the demand and maintenance required on his fleet, he sought to resolve it by creating his own brand of oil lubricants. He and his wife officially founded Lucas Oil Products in 1989. While most customers initially used their lubricants for upkeep on old equipment, they eventually become popular for newer engines and gearboxes too and grew in popularity among fellow truckers.

Soon enough, he figured the best way to get the company name out was as a racing sponsor. As he explained in 2004, “If our product could help the truck industry, it would be a great benefit to racers.”

If you were an American race fan, it was almost impossible to avoid Lucas Oil’s name. The branding has appeared on IndyCars, stock cars, drag racers and boats, and so on. They acquired naming rights for tracks and series like Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis and the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, and their presence extends to non-motorsports as well such as Lucas Oil Stadium and as the jersey sponsor of the Indiana Pacers. His son Morgan, the current CEO of Lucas Oil, also raced a Top Fuel dragster adorning the company name.

In 2004, Lucas acquired Wheatland Speedway and began an extensive renovation project. The rechristened Lucas Oil Speedway is now one of the more prominent dirt tracks in the country, while Lucas also added a short course track and artificial lake for powerboat racing. The short course track is now the season opener for Championship Off-Road.

The Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, owned by the company and founder, was also the West Coast’s preeminent short course championship from 2009 to 2020. Lucas remained well involved in the discipline after LOORRS’ demise as a supporter of Crandon International Raceway.

“Tonight we mourn the loss of a motorsports, automotive, farming, media and transportation legend,” reads a statement from Crandon. “Forrest Lucas often shared that one of his favorite American racing events was this week’s Polaris Crandon World Championships. Forrest’s influence and support of short-course off-road racing and Crandon International Raceway will remain a lasting part of his unparalleled legacy. Our collective hearts go out to the entire Lucas family. “

Forrest Lucas: February 1, 1942 – August 23, 2025

Featured image credit: Lucas Oil