Lucas Oil Products, Inc. is an American manufacturer and distributor of automotive oil, additives, and lubricants. It was founded by trucker Forrest Lucas and his wife Charlotte in 1989.[1][2] The company is a medium size manufacturer of lubricants, including engine oils, greases, gear lubes, as well as problem-solving additives and car-care products. It produces and markets approximately 270 formulations in 40 countries.[3] In the U.S., Lucas Oil is sold in more than 30,000 auto parts stores, displaying the most variety of shelf products of any oil company, and at truck stops nationwide.[4] Lucas Oil has its plants in the United States. The original plant in Corona, California, which also housed Lucas Oil Corporate Headquarters and several affiliated companies, was closed in late 2022, moving the corporate HQ to Indianapolis, Indiana.[5]

Lucas Oil Products, Inc.
Company typePrivate
IndustryAutomotive
Founded1989
HeadquartersIndianapolis, Indiana, United States
Key people
Forrest Lucas
Charlotte Lucas
ProductsAutomotive additives and lubricants, motor oil, car and marine care, television (Lucas Oil Production Studios, MAVTV & LucasOilRacingTV)
Websitewww.lucasoil.com

In 2003, it opened a new production plant in Corydon, Indiana, and expanded with an additional, multimillion-dollar, 350,000-square-foot facility in 2014.[6][7]

Products and markets

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The company's focus is to create and produce better working oils than those currently available on the commercial marketplace.[8][9] The company's first product was Heavy Duty Oil Stabilizer,[8] followed by aftermarket products, including:

  • Heavy Duty Oil Stabilizer, an ultra high viscosity petroleum multi-use oil supplement for controlling noise, heat and wear in manual transmissions and differentials
  • Upper Cylinder Fuel Lubricant, marketed as delivering an extra half mile to the gallon savings for both gasoline and diesel
  • Power Steering Stop-Leak, developed to address maintenance issues in rack and pinion steering mechanisms
  • Lucas Transmission Fix[10]

According to David Portalatin, an NPD industry analyst, Lucas Oil accounts for nearly all of the segment's recent growth and is one of leading brands in the oil additives segment.[11] The company continues to expand internationally. Current markets include Canada, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and most recently, the Middle East and Africa.[11][12]

Motorsports

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Lucas Oil owns or sponsors motorsports race teams, events and series at all levels, including NASCAR, INDYCAR, NHRA, IHRA, POWRi, ASCS, WAR and MLRA.[13] Lucas Oil also owns and operates many high-profile racing series, including Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, Monster Jam, Lucas Oil Drag Boat Series, Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Lucas Oil Modified Series, and the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri.[14]

MAVTV

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MAVTV is a motorsports television network with a programming lineup that includes the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl, Lucas Oil Pro Motocross, the FIA World Rally Championship, NHRA Drag Racing, Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing, Lucas Oil Off Road Racing, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt, Lucas Oil Modified, Lucas Oil Sprint Cars and custom build shows.[15][16][17] MAVTV is currently available on Charter, DirecTV, Google Fiber, Time Warner Cable, Verizon Fios, and hundreds of regional distributors,[18] as well as on streaming providers FuboTV and Tikilive.[19]

Lucas Oil Racing TV

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Launched on January 1, 2016, Lucas Oil Racing TV is a motorsports-dedicated subscription video on demand service.[20] Programming includes both live races and a large library of both United States and international motorsports content. Many shows include expanded pre- and post-race footage, additional interviews, and background content.[20] The service is available through the LucasOilRacing.TV website for smartphones and tablets, as well as Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Xbox One, and Xbox 360.[21]

Lucas Oil Production Studios

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Lucas Oil Production Studios produces more than 300 hours of television annually for CBS, CBS Sports, NBC Sports, as well as MAVTV.[15] Lucas Oil Production Studios under the direction of Dawn Patison focus on grass roots motorsports production including the Lucas Oil Modified Series, Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, the Dave Despain Show, the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals, the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League, and the Lucas Oil Late Model Series.[14][22][23][24]

Team Lucas

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Team Lucas is a marketing platform for Lucas-owned motorsports properties. Partners include Carlyle Tools, GEICO, Toyota, General Tire, OPTIMA Batteries, Rockstar Energy Drink, K&N Filters, and Indianapolis Colts Lucas Oil Stadium.[25][26][27] Team Lucas' fan and media exposure includes the many Lucas Oil sponsored series televised by MAVTV and its broadcasting partners.[27]

Sponsorships

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The company is a sponsor of several NASCAR, H1 Unlimited, NHRA, and IndyCar events.[28] In 2005, Lucas Oil founded the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Since 2011, it owns the cable network MAVTV, which under its purview went from a male-focused network with a lowbrow point of view to a leading motorsports network.

On February 28, 2006, it was announced that Lucas Oil had purchased the naming rights to the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, for $120 million over 20 years.[29][30] The facility opened in 2008 and is the home field for the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. Other events that have or will be held at the stadium include the 2010 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four, the 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball Regional Finals, Super Bowl XLVI (February 5, 2012), the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four, every Big Ten Football Championship Game since the inaugural game in 2011, every Drum Corps International World Championship since 2009, and the 2026 and 2029 NCAA Men's Final Fours.

In 2009, Lucas Oil founded the short course off-road racing series Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series. In March 2012, Lucas Oil extended their title sponsorship of the AMA Motocross series.[31]

Since 2011, Lucas Oil has been a main sponsor of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) association.[32]

At the time he purchased the mansion of Conseco co-founder Stephen Hilbert, Forrest Lucas stated, "I can justify it by having this as a corporate retreat for my employees and for my customers."[33]

The Lucas Oil Crusader Monster Jam truck was debuted in Houston, Texas in 2011. It was driven by Canadian Driver, Linsey Weenk, who drove the Built Ford Tough Blue Thunder monster truck before. Following the truck's and his retirement in 2020, the truck was succeeded by the Lucas Stabilizer, driven by Cynthia Gauthier.

In January 2024, Lucas Oil became the title sponsor of DAMS, a French Formula Two team, marking the first time they sponsored a team outside North America.[34]

Lucas Oil Rail Line

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Lucas Oil Rail Line, formerly known as the Louisville New Albany & Corydon Railroad, was added to the Corydon, Indiana's plant's capabilities in 2006, servicing the main manufacturing facility and several other major businesses in and around the city.[35]

Agriculture

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Lucas Cattle Company

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Lucas Cattle Company was founded in 2000 in Cross Timbers, Missouri in the Ozarks. They have bred over 2,000 head of free range Simmental cattle reared on fescue, on a strict culling strategy, with an emphasis on structural soundness and other high quality traits such as longevity, fertility, and udder quality.[36]

Protect the Harvest

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Forrest Lucas is a founder of Protect the Harvest, a nonprofit organization which opposes "the radical animal rights movement” and particularly the Humane Society of the United States, which it calls "a wealthy and successful attack group".[37] In 2012, Lucas said that he had invested over $600,000 in the organization.[38] Its stated goals include educating the public about animal agriculture, and preventing the passing of legislative or market-initiated bans on particular production practices.[39]

Robert Patison, general counsel for Lucas Oil Products, issued a statement on behalf of the company: "We provide significant financial support for a broad range of organizations that serve the needs of veterans, women, other minority groups, and disadvantaged individuals throughout the United States. Fairness and equality are core values of our company."[40]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Forrest Lucas biography". Archived from the original on September 6, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
  2. ^ "The making of the Lucas Oil empire". CNN. February 16, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  3. ^ Buck, Fielding (February 19, 2016). "CORONA: Lucas Oil founder has stories to tell in movies". Press Enterprise. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  4. ^ "Super Scrapper: Forrest Lucas - Automobile Magazine". Automobile Magazine. January 6, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  5. ^ "Lucas Oil's move from Corona to Indianapolis will spur 93 layoffs". OC Register. October 17, 2022.
  6. ^ Eng, Dinah (February 16, 2012). "The Making of the Lucas Oil Empire". Fortune. Retrieved November 21, 2016.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ Stewart, Alan (July 16, 2014). "Revamped warehouse site of new Lucas venture". The Corydon Democrat. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  8. ^ a b Eng, Dinah (February 16, 2012). "The making of the Lucas Oil empire". Fortune. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  9. ^ Babcock, Stephane (March 2016). "Q&A: Forrest Lucas on Starting and Building Lucas Oil Products". Trucking Info. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  10. ^ "Products". Lucas Oil. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  11. ^ a b Leibowitz, Ed (January 2007). "The Name of the Game: Forrest Lucas - Indianapolis Monthly". Indianapolis Monthly. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  12. ^ "About Us". Al TOMAD International Inc. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  13. ^ "Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Tech Bulletin". Racers Guide - The Web's #1 Racers' Online Directory!. August 5, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  14. ^ a b Vaughn, Mark (March 9, 2014). "What is Forrest Lucas going to buy next?". Autoweek. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  15. ^ a b Buck, Fielding (March 20, 2015). "CORONA: MAVTV targets racing fans". Press Enterprise. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  16. ^ "World Rally Championship - Media". www.wrc.com. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  17. ^ "MAVTV - Shows". MAVTV. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  18. ^ James, Meg (November 26, 2013). "For oilman, TV channel's a gas". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  19. ^ Bouma, Luke (March 7, 2018). "fuboTV launches "Adventure Plus" Add-on with Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, & More". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  20. ^ a b Buck, Fielding (December 10, 2015). "CORONA: Lucas Oil will offer live streaming motor race video". The Press Enterprise. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  21. ^ Ackley, J.A. (August 3, 2016). "Racing Anywhere, Anytime!". Lucas Oil. Speedway Illustrated. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  22. ^ Berggren, Dick (August 3, 2016). "Racing Anywhere, Anytime!". Speedway Magazine. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  23. ^ Reynolds, Mike (June 18, 2012). "MavTV Looks to Get 'American Real'". www.multichannel.com. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  24. ^ Reynolds, Mike (June 9, 2013). "MAVTV Eyes Void in 'Speed' Lane". www.multichannel.com. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  25. ^ "Carlyle Tools Partners With Team Lucas For 3rd Consecutive Year". aftermarketNews. March 14, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  26. ^ Buck, Fielding (August 3, 2015). "Lucas Oil's Enseñada racing event kicks off Mexico expansion". The Press Enterprise. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  27. ^ a b "Team Lucas". Lucas Oil. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  28. ^ "About Lucas Oil Products". NHRA. Archived from the original on October 30, 2005. Retrieved November 11, 2005.
  29. ^ "Lucas Oil dominates motorsports and the CORR Title: Sponsorship package is one key ingredient". DesertRacing. January 21, 2005. Archived from the original on March 16, 2006.
  30. ^ Monte Burke (August 27, 2010). "10 Minutes with Forrest Lucas, Founder of Lucas Oil". Forbes. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  31. ^ Tripp Mickle (March 12, 2012). "Lucas Oil Signs Multiyear Extension Of AMA Motocross Series Title Sponsorship". Sports Business Journal Daily. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  32. ^ "Professional Bull Riders". Archived from the original on May 17, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  33. ^ "Forrest Lucas buys Hilbert mansion for $3M". October 6, 2010. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  34. ^ "DAMS to become DAMS Lucas Oil". Lucas Oil. January 22, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  35. ^ Runevitch, Jennie (May 25, 2006). "Forrest Lucas buys Corydon railroad". 13 WTHR Indianapolis. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  36. ^ Fairchild, Steve (September 3, 2014). "A promise to protect". Today's Farmer Online. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  37. ^ Beckel, Michael (May 29, 2014). "'Radical Animal Rights Movement' Gets New Foe". The Huffington Post. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  38. ^ P.J. Huffstutter and Lisa Baertlein (April 16, 2012). ""Pink Slime" controversy stokes clash over agriculture". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  39. ^ Maday, John (April 17, 2012). "Protect the Harvest". Cattle Network. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  40. ^ Jessica Chasmar (October 5, 2014). "Lucas Oil founder is 'sick and tired of minorities running our country' - Washington Times". The Washington Times. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
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