Forrest Lucas, the self-made entrepreneur who transformed a trucking background into a global lubricants empire, died on August 23, 2025, at the age of 83. Lucas Oil Products announced his passing, noting he had been in failing health recently, though no specific cause was disclosed.

Born in 1942 in rural Indiana, Lucas overcame a childhood of hardship in Elkinsville, leaving home at 15 to work on a cattle ranch. He built a trucking fleet before founding Lucas Oil in 1989 with his wife, Charlotte, growing it into a brand distributed in over 90 countries.

A motorsports icon, Lucas sponsored NHRA drag racing for decades and secured naming rights for Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, in a $121.5 million deal. Tributes poured in, with Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon calling him a “giant among Hoosiers” and NHRA highlighting his impact on grassroots racing.

Lucas is survived by Charlotte and their family. His legacy endures in innovation and philanthropy, inspiring the industry he revolutionized.