Casey Luna obit

Sprint Car Hall Of Famer Casey Luna, 95 

He was not on the list.

Longtime World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series team owner Casey Luna died on June 2. He was 95 years old.

Luna, who was elected into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2010, is best known for fielding Ford-powered cars during a time period when the manufacturer had no involvement in sprint car racing.

Luna first entered sprint car racing as a team owner for Robby Unser in 1985 and because he owned a dealership Casey Luna Ford, he wanted to race cars with Ford power.

Learning that there was no Ford equipment available for sprint car racing, Luna took it upon himself to develop a Ford powerplant.

Luna’s first big success came when his No. 10 machine won the 1989 World of Outlaws championship with Bobby Davis Jr. at the wheel. However, it was during the season in which the World of Outlaws tour was split with USA and Luna did not find that title satisfying.

Dave Blaney came to the team in 1990 and the No. 10 operation were consistent frontrunners with Blaney winning the World of Outlaws championship in 1995. At the end of that season, the Lunas left the sport.

Casey Luna also served a term as Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico.

Luna was born on May 26, 1931, to Casimiro Luna and Ruby Armenta. He was born in Canon de Jemez (modern day Jemez Pueblo). His parents separated when Luna was roughly 13, and he attended Albuquerque High School, although he did not graduate. He worked as a bicycle delivery boy for Western Union. in this capacity in 1948 he personally delivered a telegram to U.S. President Harry S. Truman. Also in 1948, he joined the United States Army and was trained as a medic. His automotive career began when he took a job at a car dealership in Albuquerque. He later filled in as a driver for a race car sponsored by the dealership, later winning the 1955 and 1956 track championships at Speedway Park in Albuquerque. He then owned a sprint car racing team, Casey Luna Ford, from 1985 to 1996. He also owned a car dealership, Casey Luna Ford-Mercury, now known as Melloy Ford.

In 1986, he mounted a bid to become Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico as a Democrat, but did not win. He ran again in 1990 and won, becoming Lieutenant Governor to Governor Bruce King. He was not included in King's advisory circle, which frustrated him.

In 1994, he challenged King in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, but lost. King would go on to lose the general election to businessman Gary Johnson. Luna left office on January 1, 1995, and was succeeded by Walter Bradley.

He had a wife, Beverly, whom he married in 1965, and at least one daughter. He was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2019.