AS SEEN IN OUR STREET TRUCKS MAY 2026 ISSUE – Buy Now!

Tom Bennett’s ’61 F-100 CHKN RN

EVERY year at Street Trucks, we put our cover trucks to the ultimate test by letting the audience decide which one stands above the rest. All the trucks that graced our covers throughout the year go head-to-head in a voting system inside the Motortopia app, where readers cast their votes for the build that left the biggest impression. When the votes were tallied for 2025, one truck clearly stood out. Tom Bennett’s 1961 Ford F-100, known as CHKN RN, earned the title of 2025 Street Trucks Truck of the Year.

Tom Bennett is no stranger to custom vehicles. His background is deeply tied to the mini-truck scene, and he has owned his share of other modified rides over the years. As time went on, his passion for building never faded, but his approach did. This time, Tom wanted to prove something to himself. Instead of leaning on shops to complete the work, he wanted to tackle the build mostly in his garage and see just how far he could push his abilities.

Finding the right project took some patience. His search through Florida classifieds mostly turned up overpriced trucks in rough condition. Eventually, he expanded his search and stumbled across a promising 1961 F-100 in Texas listed at a surprisingly low price. At first, it seemed too good to be true. Messages went unanswered, and even a friend in Texas had trouble getting in touch with the seller. Tom figured the deal had slipped away until the seller finally called back. The delay was intentional, meant to filter out scammers. Tom’s friend checked out the truck in person, confirmed it was the real deal, and helped arrange the shipment to Florida.

Somewhere along the way, the truck earned its name. Late one night, Tom woke up with the idea for “Chicken Run,” inspired by the baby chicks his father bought his daughter each Easter.

Once the truck arrived, Tom wasted no time getting to work. The original frame and drivetrain weren’t part of his plan. Instead, he ordered a custom one-off chassis from GSI Machine that would allow the F-100 to sit low and ride right. Using nothing more than a Harbor Freight winch mounted in his garage, Tom carefully lowered the body onto the powdercoated chassis himself. From there he installed the air-ride system, bolted on CPP big brake kits, and mounted 22-inch Raceline Desperado wheels.

Next came a big leap forward: installing a 2013 Ford Coyote engine paired with a 6R80 transmission from Power By The Hour. Aside from modifying the core support for a new radiator, the modern drivetrain slid into place with minimal drama. It was during this stage that Tom realized the biggest lesson of the build—most tasks weren’t impossible; they just required patience and persistence.

One of the most unique parts of the project came when Tom built a custom wood plank bed floor using reclaimed 30-year-old Dade County pine salvaged from a friend’s barn. The dense, old-growth wood was tough to cut, but the result was worth the effort. He even incorporated a center panel that lifts upward.

As the debut deadline for Mini-Truckin’ Nationals in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, approached, Tom called in a few trusted shops to help finish the truck. Blast Coating handled powdercoating duties, Aspire Autosports assisted with wiring and paint work under the hood, Innerworx completed the upholstery, and Advanced Audio Concepts installed the electronics.

Somewhere along the way, the truck earned its name. Late one night, Tom woke up with the idea for “Chicken Run,” inspired by the baby chicks his father bought his daughter each Easter. The shortened plate CHKN RN stuck, and the personality fit the truck perfectly.

Just two years after the first wrench was turned, Tom rolled out a finished build that impressed readers across the country and ultimately earned the title of 2025 Street Trucks Truck of the Year.

TRUCK SPECS

 Engine & Drivetrain

• 2013 Ford Coyote engine installed by owner
• Power By The Hour swap kit
• Wiring harness and pulley kit by Shaun Stoger and Bryan Cawthon at Aspire Autosports, Clearwater, FL
• Billet valve covers by JC Customs, Lake Worth, FL
• Ultimate Headers
• Custom exhaust by Jimmy’s Rod ‘N Customs, Edgewater, FL
• 2013 Ford 6R80 transmission by Power By The Hour
• Transmission cooler mounted to side of frame

Chassis & Suspension

• GSI frame powdercoated by ATX Powder Coating, Lake Park, FL
• Front and rear sway bars
• Rear 4-link air-ride
• Ridetech shocks, GSI control arms, and other suspension components powdercoated by Blast Coating, Lake Worth, FL
• Slam Specialties bags
• Viair 485C compressor
• (4) SMC valves
• Rack and pinion steering
• Currie Ford 9-inch rear

Wheels, Tires & Brakes

• 22×9 and 22×12 Raceline Desperado wheels
• 255/30/22 and 305/30/22 Lexani tires
• CPP front 6-piston and rear 4-piston big brake kits
• Baer master cylinder
• Stainless brake lines

Body & Paint

• Firewall and grille painted by Aspire Autosports
• Pinstriping by Pinstripe Mikey
• Shaved firewall
• New floor pans and tunnel
• Dade pine tilt floor powered by electric actuator
• Stretched rear tubs
• Dapper Lighting OE7 headlights
• Sequential LED taillights

Interior & Stereo

• Full leather bench seat by Jessie and Aaron at Innerworx, Delray Beach, FL
• Sparc Industries Stallion steering wheel
• Dakota Digital instruments
• Dash modified for Restomod Air climate system, vents, and controls
• Dash painted hot rod flat black
• Stereo install by Eric Cryan at Advanced Audio Concepts, Pompano, FL
• Morel Virtus Nano Carbon speakers
• JL Audio MBT-RX Bluetooth receiver