Belen mourns former lieutenant governor Casey Luna, racing legend, at 95

Casey Luna left an imprint on Belen and Valencia County that reached far beyond one office. Long before he became New Mexico’s lieutenant governor, he was part of the local economy and the county’s racing culture, running Ford and Mercury dealerships in Belen and Mountainair for 30 years while also building a reputation on the track that still carries weight with New Mexico motorsports fans.

Luna died at home in Belen on June 2 at age 95, and the news of his death on June 5 marked the passing of one of the area’s most recognizable public figures. Born May 26, 1931, in Cañón de Jemez, he came up through a New Mexico landscape where business, politics and auto racing often overlapped. His death in Belen matters locally because his name was woven into the everyday life of the community, from dealership ads to racing talk to state politics.

His racing record came first. Luna won Albuquerque Speedway championships in 1956 and 1957, then later owned and operated sprint cars. His No. 10 car went on to win national titles in 1989 and 1996, and he was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2010. He became especially well known for fielding Ford-powered sprint cars at a time when Ford had no factory involvement in the sport, a detail that helped define his standing in motorsports history.

That racing visibility fed his public identity in Valencia County. A 2023 Albuquerque Historical Society program noted that his dealership slogan, “Dirt is cheaper in the country!,” was widely remembered across New Mexico in the 1980s. For many residents, Luna was not just a political name from Santa Fe. He was a businessman whose ads, car lots and racing connections were familiar parts of the region’s civic life.

Luna’s political career came later. He served as New Mexico lieutenant governor under Bruce King from 1991 to 1995, and the New Mexico Legislature’s historical roster lists Belen as his residence during that period. That connection put him at the center of state government while keeping one foot in Valencia County, where he remained tied to local business and family life.

Valencia County News-Bulletin reported that Luna eventually moved to Puerto Peñasco, Mexico, but continued returning to Belen to see friends and family. That pattern fits the arc of a life that bridged racing, retail and politics. By the time of his death, Luna represented an older New Mexico public culture, one built through local reputation as much as through elected office.