Sportsman Spotlight: John & Krista Long

For John and Krista Long, racing is about the road between finish lines. Based out of Godley, Texas, this husband-and-wife duo built a drag racing program rooted in hard-earned experience, mechanical self-sufficiency and a relentless drive to improve. Whether they’re chasing wins in NHRA Division 4 or grinding through the miles of a grueling drag-and-drive week, they do it together—and that’s what sets them apart.

“Work to be the best. Learn from every mistake.”
— John Long

Born to Race

John’s racing journey started early. At just 7 years old, he was already competing in NHRA Jr. Dragster, traveling the country with his family. By 16, he had moved into full-size competition behind the wheel of his now-iconic 2001 Camaro* B4C, a retired police car that he still races.

His current race vehicles also include a 1968 Camaro he’s been building since childhood and his dad’s GMC* S-15 pickup. John’s impressive racing résumé includes a 10th-place season ranking in IHRA Stock Eliminator plus multiple track championships and top 10 divisional finishes.

“Racing absolutely wears you down. Make sure you have fun.”
— Krista Long

The First Fast Lady

Krista’s path was different but equally ingrained. Growing up at the track watching her dad race, motorsports were always part of her world. But it wasn’t until 2019 that her competitive career truly took off, with the purchase of a humble Chevette.* Unconventional, meticulously built and deceptively fast, it became a symbol of their racing program. Powered by a 4.3L V6 with a nitrous plate and backed by a 4L60E automatic transmission, Krista’s Chevette runs into the 10s. It’s a rare build in a sport dominated by V8s.

Drag-and-drive events are where Krista thrives. Rocky Mountain Race Week stands out as her favorite series, and for good reason. She earned the Wicked Chick Award in 2022 and finished third in her class in 2023. Her long-term goal is a class win at Race Week.

Pursuit of Performance

The couple performs nearly all fabrication, maintenance and troubleshooting in-house, continuously adapting their race vehicles to whatever best suits each event. That flexibility parallels everything they do together. John brings mechanical knowledge and years of experience learning the hard way, while Krista plays a critical role in preparation and execution. Each has distinct responsibilities and the division of labor makes their program stronger, especially during drag-and-drive events where endurance is just as important as speed.

Both agree that success is a combination of learning from mistakes, staying mentally strong and refusing to blindly follow the crowd. John believes some of the best performance improvements come from questioning “accepted knowledge.” He frequently finds better solutions through testing and experience. Krista echoes that mindset, emphasizing preparation behind the scenes and steady self-improvement every time she puts on a helmet.

After years of trying different automotive products, that same philosophy led them to AMSOIL back in 2015. In a world full of opinions and misinformation, they experienced measurable performance improvements firsthand when using AMSOIL products and never looked back. Their continuing commitment to AMSOIL is based entirely on performance rather than popularity or following trends.

“AMSOIL simply performed better than anything else we had used.”
— John Long

Worth the Struggle

Racing isn’t always glamorous. Drag-and-drive events demand long days with little sleep while driving hundreds of highway miles through brutal summer heat in cars with no comfort features. But those challenges are exactly what make the reward sweeter. John describes the feeling of pulling into the final track after a week on the road as pure accomplishment. Krista treasures the community, friendships and memories, including a young fan who thought her Chevette was the coolest car he’d ever seen.

Their most unforgettable moment came at Rocky Mountain Race Week 2023, at the historic Bandimere Speedway. With the track permanently closing, Krista needed a 12.04-second run or better to secure third place after a week of struggling. She managed 12.01 on the final pass and the celebration that followed felt like winning a championship.

But one accomplishment stands above the rest: finishing all eight drag-and-drive events that they’ve entered together.

“Get in where you fit in.”
— John Long

Passion and Teamwork

For anyone looking to get into racing, John and Krista Long offer some simple advice: “get in where you fit in,” don’t overthink it and remember to have fun. You don’t need the biggest budget, just commitment, curiosity and heart. For John and Krista, that simple formula has continued to work mile after mile and pass after pass.