This Lightning Will Strike Twice – Jason Long’s First-Year Ford Pick-Up to Make Drag and Drive Debut at Edelbrock Sick Smokies!
On almost every drag and drive event we cover, there’s at least one vehicle with interesting stats, a cool back story, or some cool modifications that draws you in. It stands as a good reminder that being interested in the car hobby is a blast, and that’s before we get to the racing and cruising together part!
The Ford Lightning pick-up truck that is the subject of this article, owned by Jason Long, has served numerous purposes over a two-plus decade ownership, and will serve as the key to his first drag and drive event appearance at the Edelbrock Sick Smokies October 12-19th, 2025.
If you missed Sick Michigan Miles, you’ve got one more chance to join Sick The Mag for our final event for 2025 - Sick Smokies Presented by Edelbrock, on October 12-19th, 2025! We’re doing seven days cruising the South, including Tail Of The Dragon, and four great drag strips! Discounted advanced spectator tickets, as well as Sick Ward / Sick Spit Show & Shine entries are available - CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE about Sick Smokies!!
Ford introduced the first edition of the ‘hot rod’ pick-up, the Lightning, in 1993. Getting some bonus bits courtesy of the Special Vehicle Team, including a warmed up 351 cubic inch small block Ford Windsor engine, overdrive transmission, 4.10 geared rear end, and a unique set of wheels, front air dam, and graphics gave it a cool look, with decent performance to back it up.
Ford made less than 5300 copies of the relatively rare pick-up, and Long’s version is one of the 2,691 wearing the Raven Black hue. “I bought it in 1998 for the main purpose of towing my boat to the lake,” said Long.
Because he raced Fox-body Ford Mustangs during his teenage and early twenties, Long kept the modifications to the Lightning, instead enjoying driving and racking up the miles. “I got out of it (racing the Mustangs) to pursue other interests, but always had the Lightning to keep my gearhead toy around,” Long said.
Fast forward to a couple years ago, and Long’s interest in the Lightning changed up a bit. Although Long had continued to drive it, and made changes to the stance and appearance over the years, he was ready to embrace the next chapter.
“I got back into racing,” said Long. To satisfy his need for a little more speed, the basically stock engine got a single turbocharger, and Long has worked it down to a best eighth-mile time of 7.76 at 88 mph.
About the time his racing interest came back, Long’s interest in the drag and drive scene also moved up on the importance level. “I’ve been wanting to do a drag and drive event for a few years now,” Long said. The Edelbrock Sick Smokies were announced, and Long immediately had found the place to make his first start in drag and drive.
“I really like the opportunity to do it near me, and in an area I frequent in the mountains,” he said. Although the pick-up sports north of 161,000 miles, Long believes the platform, combined with not having an aggressive set-up will be his key to surviving the event.“I’m running solo,” said Long about his plans for Sick Smokies. “So (I may experience) sleep deprivation, but hopefully everything else will be smooth.”
He plans to camp where he can, and Long looks forward to the “experience, locations and the route” in the Lightning he calls Bettie.
Jason Long and his ’93 Lightning will get to do his first drag and drive event at our ‘one-off’ Edelbrock Sick Smokies event, October 12-19th. Don’t miss the chance to watch over 200 competitors, including the largest group of Gassers at a drag and drive ever, race at five different tracks over the course of seven days. CLICK HERE for more details on Edelbrock Sick Smokies!
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Jason Long.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com