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GIVEAWAY #30 WINNER PROFILE:

Chris Thomas and the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 Bison Widebody

717 Supply’s landmark 30th giveaway started with the most extensively modified truck in the enterprise’s history to date and ended with Chris Thomas from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, purchasing a $30 entry pack. The modest investment brought him an $85,000 Silverado ZR2 Bison with $40,000 in modifications plus $30,000 cash—a total prize of about $155,000. “It’s just so surreal,” he admitted.

Thomas discovered 717 Supply as a gearhead watching founder Mike Hyssong’s Street Speed 717 YouTube channel. “I just started watching him because of the car content. I've been watching for a long time, over 10 years,” he said. When the giveaways launched with “all the Corvettes and the lifted trucks,” Thomas saw chances to win vehicles he genuinely wanted.

After receiving the phone call from Hyssong about his win, skepticism from friends came immediately, Thomas recalled. “Most of them thought I was just joking with them. Then they started realizing it was true when they saw it on Instagram.” On the other hand, Thomas was confident about his good fortune upon answering the call. “I could understand it was him,” he explained. “Even while you’re talking to him on the phone, it’s like, this is really happening. You see it so many times when people win, you don’t know what to say when he calls you.”

Seeing the Slate Gray Metallic ZR2 Bison in person on the reveal day left Thomas stunned, while Hyssong called it “our largest build” and “the most unique build that we've ever done.” This motivation came from Hyssong’s frustration with GM’s limited response to the Ford Raptor and Ram TRX. “I was always angry and sad that GM never made a real Raptor R or TRX truck,” Hyssong said. “They had the ZR2, but that was a good truck off-road, but nothing like those other trucks. I said, you know what? I want to do it. I want to see what a real GM version of one of those trucks would look like.”

The result impressed both the builder and the prize winner. “I can’t believe they made it look that good,” Thomas said of the widebody. Meanwhile, Hyssong described the craftsmanship as “OEM quality” that “looks like a truck that you could buy new at a dealership.”

The reality of Thomas’ win was offset with a dose of practicality. “I might have to cut out a section of my garage to get that inside,” he joked. Nonetheless, his excitement was obvious as he prepared to head home. “I’m going to keep it and enjoy it for a while,” Thomas remarked. “I still can’t believe I’m about to pull out with it. It’s so easy. You just have to buy something.”

About the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 Bison Widebody

Chris Thomas’ prize reflects Hyssong’s attempt to create what GM never built—a Silverado capable of challenging the Ford F-150 Raptor R and Ram 1500 TRX. The project took five months of upgrades to turn an already capable truck from the factory into what Hyssong calls “a TRX/Raptor killer.”

It began with Chevrolet’s ZR2 Bison, developed with American Expedition Vehicles (AEV). The Bison package adds stamped steel bumpers with winch mounts, expanded skid plate protection, and AEV-branded interior details. The ZR2 upgrade includes front and rear electronic locking differentials and Multimatic DSSV dampers.

717 Supply’s modifications started with a Magnuson 2650 supercharger installed on the 6.2-liter V8 by Complete Street Performance. Power jumped to about 650 horsepower, supported by Kooks long-tube headers and a Corsa exhaust system with a revised sound.

 

The suspension received a full overhaul through Peak front and rear coilover conversions and external reservoirs. Mazzulla upper and lower control arms replaced stock parts, while extended axle and tie rod sleeves added strength for larger tires and higher loads.

The most dramatic change came from PAXPower PerformanceTrucks, which created a custom widebody kit to fit 37-inch Nitto Ridge Grapplers on Fuel Forged wheels. Factory ZR2s can’t accommodate rubber this large, so extensive bodywork, including custom bed sides blended into the stock liner, was needed.

 

Capabilities include 8,800 pounds of towing (when properly equipped) with the 6.2-liter engine, plus enhanced off-road numbers: a 34-degree approach angle, 24.4-degree departure angle, 24.4-degree breakover angle, and 11.3 inches of clearance.

Inside, the truck features yellow-stitched leather seating, Bose audio, and a 13.4-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. AEV badging on the headrests completes the Bison trim.