INDIANAPOLIS (August 28, 2024) – Lucas Oil, the world leader and distributor of high-performance automotive additives and lubricants, is proud to announce that its founder, Forrest Lucas, has been awarded the prestigious NHRA Lifetime Achievement Award. The honor was presented at the Annual Sportsman Appreciation Dinner during the NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Forrest Lucas, the innovative pioneer behind Lucas Oil Products, is celebrated worldwide for his exceptional contributions to the automotive industry and motorsports. For more than 20 years, Lucas Oil has been one of NHRA’s most prominent supporters, serving as the title sponsor of the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, which features the best and most decorated sportsman competitors in drag racing. Lucas Oil is also the “Official Oil of NHRA” and the event title sponsor of the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., and the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. The company’s support to NHRA also includes naming rights for Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, home of the World’s Biggest Drag Race™, the NHRA U.S. Nationals.
“I can’t say enough about Forrest Lucas; he truly embodies the spirit of drag racing, sharing the same resilience and passion that runs deep in our sport,” said NHRA President Glen Cromwell. “His connection to the NHRA is historic. From supporting greats like the Arana family, Frank Manzo, Del Worsham and Antron Brown to numerous racing teams, including his son and wife behind the wheel, Forrest and Lucas Oil’s unwavering support and dedication have elevated drag racing and motorsports to new heights. The Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, which has enjoyed a two-decade-long title sponsorship, is just one of many examples of Lucas’ commitment to the sport.”
Forrest, alongside his wife Charlotte, founded Lucas Oil in 1989 with a mission to develop high-performance oil and fuel treatments aimed at reducing mechanical failures and increasing mileage, particularly within the trucking industry. His innovative solutions quickly gained the respect of American truck drivers, who valued his honest and straightforward approach. Over the years, Lucas Oil has expanded to provide a wide range of engine oils, additives and fuel treatments for a variety of machines, solidifying a reputation for reliability and performance.
Lucas Oil has also built an incredible reputation on the track with its robust line of racing-specific products. Hundreds of race teams and drivers, representing nearly all forms of motorsports, rely on Lucas Oil Racing products to perform flawlessly under the most extreme conditions. The confidence placed in Lucas Oil’s racing formulas underscores Forrest’s passion for motorsports and for the NHRA.
“There are few in the racing community who don’t know Forrest, his family or haven’t seen a Lucas Oil banner at a racetrack,” added Cromwell. “His contributions have touched the lives of countless individuals in this sport and we are honored to present him with the NHRA Lifetime Achievement Award. I wholeheartedly congratulate Forrest on this well-deserved recognition. His leadership, passion for racing, and unwavering support for the motorsports community exemplify the qualities that the Lifetime Achievement Award seeks to honor.”
Beyond his business acumen, Forrest has been a generous philanthropist and sports marketing giant. His strategic sponsorships span amateur and professional sports, from the iconic Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO, to high-profile partnerships like Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts. Lucas Oil’s presence is also prominent in events like Monster Jam and through sponsorships of the Dallas Cowboys.
About NHRA:
NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horse Powered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With 110 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
