A lot of truck drivers would love to customize their vehicles. Many add their own personal touches. Few get the chance to go beyond that. But Wayne Mason, an owner-operator for Fikes Truck Line, did.

Mason was the grand prize winner in Fikes Truck Line Upgrade Recruiting Contest. His award: a $20,000 custom truck upgrade from Bryan Martin, the “Don” at Chrome Shop Mafia, the Joplin, MO-based custom truck experts. You can check out some of Chrome Shop Mafia’s other work here.

“My truck turned out even better than I expected,” Mason says. “It looks great and I’m really proud of it.”

Mason was given the chance to customize his truck by virtue of winning the contest, which ran from Feb. 1, 2009 through July 31, 2009. Owner-operators, who make up 100% of the drivers for Fikes, which specializes in open-deck freight, had the chance to refer a new contractor to the company. For each referral, one entry was entered in the referring driver’s name. Mason’s name was ultimately pulled, even if he didn’t believe it when Max Campbell, director of recruiting & contractor services, told him.

“I was sure Max was pulling my leg,” said Mason. “He had to get Gary Salisbury [executive president & COO] on the phone to tell me it was true before I could believe it.”

Among the upgrades Mason’s rig received: two-tone paint job on the cab, hood and sleeper; stainless ½ fenders; custom bumper; new dual 6 in. stacks; CSM mud flaps, weights and more; nut covers, hub covers and license bracket plate; two custom seats; full chrome package: in-dash toggles, knobs, switch trim and more; and a custom steering wheel installed by Martin.