Backbone of Drag and Drive Part 10: The Power Couple Behind the 10-Second Chevette
In the entertainment industry they coined the term “power couple” as a way to describe when two A-Level actors get together and shake up the business. I get it that they are talking about a different kind of power but I still think we missed it and that term should have been created by racers. I mean we are the kind of people that frame most everything in our lives with numbers reflecting horsepower, torque, elapsed times, top speed, etc.
We only buy our mowers, water heaters, tools, sun glasses, furniture, and more after researching performance specs with intent to get the best possible output that our budget allows. Power is directly connected to success. So… when talking about a group of such folks I think “power couple” is a great way to describe when two people connect and the result is an exponential increase in awesome drag and drive performances.
Enter stage left..John and Krista Long have been making waves in this community since the first time that lil white Chevette made a pass at RMRW in 2021. Not a lot of Chevettes out there for one thing, but a v6 powered one that has been in the 10’s... yea that’s different. Most of you probably did the double take like I did when that hit the lights. This pair of A-List hot rodders have the pedigree to earn your attention, but step right around that and put serious talent and dedication right up front so nobody misses it. They have been bringing this lil showstopper successfully to events since 2021 and will likely be at an event with you this year. If your idea of entertainment is a hand wringing drama, well this might not be the show for you. But if you like a good underdog story. Or maybe a good rom/com. Or perhaps you like the story about the mild mannered stock clerk that hides a superhero costume under his apron. Oh yea this is your ticket... These two and their Chevette have the chops to bring you to the edge of your seat, give you the thrills, surprises, and wow moments you're looking for. And along the way demonstrate what it looks like when two great people come together and chase their dreams with grit, determination and an enthusiastic commitment to a lesser used body style. It sounds like they have big plans for this small platform as well so that podium finish is just a matter of time. This is what makes these events such a great time. Folks like John and Krista turn out with a v6 powered Chevette and lay out a blockbuster pass that makes the v8’s take notice.
This is drag and drive! And John and Krista are part of the backbone.
A little about Krista and John Long:
Where are you from/live?
Krista- Originally i’m from Belton, Texas and we now live in Godley, Texas
John- Originally from Cleburne, Texas and now live in Godley, Texas
Who inspired you to build a hot rod?
Krista- I grew up around racing and my dad raced my whole life so he was a big influence. I met John while I was working at the race track so since we met our lives have pretty much revolved around racing. I really didnt have much interest in racing myself early on. I mainly just wanted to be there to help/watch. I ran street class a few times but nothing serious. Whenever John and I started talking about getting me a car I wanted something different. We found the chevette and the rest is just kind of history!
John- My dad deserves all the credit for ruining me with this hobby. He started taking me to the NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex when I was really young and spent hours with me at the Jr. Drag Racing League booth where they use to let me sit in all the cars on display. That was kind of an annual thing until I got my own jr. dragster when i was 7. My dad races, my wife and her whole family races, and I made the transition to builder/tuner/crew chief as well as driving.
First Race and Where?
Krista- my first pass was probably at a street car shootout deal at Little River Dragway in the 2007-2008ish range. What I am claiming to be my first “real race” was Rocky Mountain Raceweek 2.0 in 2022.
John- My first pass down the dragstrip was in June/July 1998 at Denton Dragway (what later became known as NorthStar Dragway in Denton, Texas
What was your first car?
Krista- 1994 GMC Sierra 1500 single cab shortbed. My dad and brothers drug it out of a field and put a 350 crate motor in it for me. I had nothing but problems with it but it got the job done.
John- Well… I think there were 4-5 that were bought and sold before I started driving. My first official street vehicle was a 1993 chevy extended cab. We bought my 1968 Camaro and started building it when I was 12 so that was technically first.
What was your first Drag and drive style event? What vehicle?
Krista- As a copilot Rocky Mountain Race Week 2.0 in 2021. I didn't feel like I was quite up to the challenge of driving yet in such a challenging event, so John drove my Chevette. My first one I drove in was the same event in 2022
John- When the world shut down for Covid, we sat around and watched everyone having all the drag and drive fun on youtube. We decided to go ahead and give it a shot so we took Krista’s Chevette down to a bare body and completely rebuilt it for the purpose of doing our first drag and drive. I'm not going to say it was a great idea as we were having a house built, remodeling our current house to sell, and trying to get the chevette done all at the same time. It came down to the wire but we got it done. Raceweek 2021 we entered and completed our first drag and drive.
What's your PB and how/when did that happen?
Krista- I have been 10.92 at 124mph in the Chevette when we first put the nitrous on and were testing to go to Race Week. Fastest I have been 1/8th mile was in John’s 68 Camaro and it was 6.54.
John- Well 1/8th mile I have been 4.69. ¼ mile all my seat time came in the NHRA Super classes on a throttle stop. So technically my fastest ET was in the 8.80s trying to go 8.90 in Super Comp, but it was at 175mph.
Unlimited budget… What are you building?
Krista- I would like to say a really nice 69 camaro or a 66-67 chevy 2… but if we are being real here i would probably build more Chevettes lol
John- Oh thats tough. I have a thing for round body s10s, 66-67 Chevy 2s, first gen camaros, and 55s. I would also not mind a tube chassis chevette lol
Favorite car movie?
Krista- Smokey and the Bandit
John- Days of Thunder
Favorite music for cruising?
Krista- Whatever comes up when I hit play on my phone. I can jam to anything
John- My music has now been classified as “paw paw music” lol
Favorite road trip snacks?
Krista- Flamin hot funyons, Andy Capp hot fries, anything chocolate
John- Snickers ice cream bar and a Mountain Dew Livewire
For the story, tell us about your best/favorite event
We kind of both have a shared memorable, favorite event so we will just tell the story of that one for both of us. Raceweek 2023 for the first time was going to the mountains after being in the Texas/Oklahoma area for years. We knew the Chevette wouldn’t be able to run 12.00 in that bad of air so we used a restrictor plate to slow it down to run 13.00 that year. John’s dad didn't get his 67 firebird finished so he borrowed Johns 2001 Camaro to take with us, also slowing down to run the 13.00 class.
Other than having to swap spark plugs left and right from our lack of carburetor tuning with altitude change, there wasn't a lot of difficulty as far as keeping the car going. The week itself is what was the challenge. At that time the car had no overdrive and would turn around 3200 rpm at 70. We left Kearny headed to Bandimere at 2 in the afternoon with no drive day. In the middle of Nebraska after the sun went down it was pitch black. We were following our friends Derek and Samantha Lewis in their s10 when all of a sudden his lights went out and he started swerving all over the road. Turns out a wire shorted out, popped the headlight fuse and he was doing his best Tommy Boy bees in the car reenactment as he was finding the shorted wire to make sure it wasnt on fire. We got that fixed and while on the side of the road we noticed a thunder storm popped up that potentially had hail in it (plus we had no wipers) and we were trying to rush to a car wash about 40 miles away. We cruised 80-85 for 40 miles at what seemed like 7000 rpm, but we made it just as the storm hit and rode it out under cover in a car wash.
The second day at Bandimere is where we locked in our averages. John’s dad was sitting second driving John’s car, and we were sitting 3rd. We struggled all day trying to get the restrictor plate set for a solid run. We were too fast, then too slow. After doing the math we had to put I think better than a 13.04 on the board to lock in 2nd place. They were calling final call to the lanes for the night and we had one more shot. John was still adjusting on the restrictor plate a few cars back. When the score boards lit up on our last pass it was a 13.018 to seal the deal on 3rd place! Not only did we have an absolutely great time that week with family and friends, but we as a team took 2nd and 3rd in the same class, met a lot of great people that year, got some highlights on social media, and made some memories in one of the most beautiful parts of the country we will never forget!
Event: Rocky Mountain Race Week 2.0 2023, when it was in the mountains for the final year of Bandimere being open.
Event Average: 13.046
vehicle at that event?
Year, Make, Model 1984 Chevrolet Chevette
Powertrain Combo at time of Event:
Engine: 4.3L GM V6- Vortec heads, hydraulic roller cam
Transmission: TH350 built by Mr. Wendell’s Motorsports/ Circle D converter
Rear Gear: 3.73
Power Adder: None
Tires: Mickey Thompson 235/60/15 drag radials
History:
How long you’ve had it
We bought the car in 2019
How many races have you attended in this vehicle?
We have bracket raced and index raced it a handful of times but we have completed 5 drag and drives with it.
Why did you build this car?
Because its different! John raced a close friend's tube chassis Chevette in super gas for a little while and the little car just grew on us I guess. You don't see many out there, they are light weight, and you can fit in one parking spot even with a trailer!
Any maintenance required from all the passes?
All goes well with the car, honestly not much. We stay on top of our fluid changes thanks to our friends at Amsoil. But with the hydraulic roller there isn't much to it.
What are 1-2 struggles from the week?
Trying to keep a carburetor running semi-correct while making huge elevation changes
Just trying to survive the week!
Plans for events this year?
Which vehicle? The Chevette will be back for sure before we tear it back apart for some 2027 upgrades. John’s 2001 Camaro will be out and about, and we have been building a 1988 GMC S15 that might make it out of the shop one day
Which class? The Chevette will be an 11.00 contender again, the camaro is a solid 12.00 ride, and the S15 is going to be able to fit anything from the various drag and drive classes to no prep events.
Goals? Goal always is to finish the events we start, but it sure would be nice to finally win one of these things!
Any changes or upgrades planned? We have a lot of engine plans in store for the Chevette in the 26/27 off season we are pretty excited about. We cant leave anything alone so everything else will likely get some attention as well
Bucketlist Race or Event? Honestly, every Rocky Mountain Race Week is a bucket list race for us. Since the very first one we attended (which was supposed to be a one event and done kind of deal) has kept us counting down the days until the next one. We would like to give a few other races a try like Drag Week. We enjoyed Sick Week last year and are signed up for The Circuit this year.
Krista and John Long are some of the coolest people you will ever meet. I remember walking the pits at Bandimere at Race Week 2023 and coming across the Chevette. From the front, with the hood popped, it looks like a small block Chevrolet under the hood. But, as Krista and I talked, while John worked on the rear suspension, it hit me that the engine was missing two cylinders. From there, I knew these people were the right kind of cool.
Given the opportunity, they are happy, and proud, to talk about the car. But, in typical drag and drive fashion, they let the car do the talking on the track. We’d love to see them get more attention, for two reasons….. One: They deserve it for taking the hard path to run the car with a 4.3 V6 instead of a typical SBC or LS. Two: They put in hours and hours to make sure the car is the best it can be for what it is. They haven’t gone wild and cut the car to pieces to try and go 8s, which is a typical path for racers. They know what the car is, what it can do and continually tweak on it to make it a smidge better each time.
They truly are the backbone of drag and drive in every sense of the phrase.
Article by Rodney Reeves and Mike Narx. Photos provided by Krista and John Long
1320Video loves the Chevette as much as we do:
