Nick Isenhouer pays homage to factory-backed motorsport legacy and its current evolution with the F-150 6100 build.
Classic Development
Dubbed 'Door Slammer,' this undeniably cool 6100 Spec Trophy Truck holds a few fun surprises, along with the chops to win. There is a certain nostalgia for square-body trucks in the world of desert racing, especially Fords from the 1990s. The era's classic designs remind fans of a time when factory-backed teams were a crucial part of the sport's development.
Photos: Method Race Wheels/Isenhouer
Functional Reserve
That same nostalgia is what prompted Nick Isenhouer to build his 1995 F-150 race truck—nicknamed Door Slammer for good reason. While popular convention sometimes attributes the term to a high-output motor, it literally refers to race cars with functional doors. It is also a Sportsman class of desert racing, reserved for trucks with all-steel bodies.
Evolution Legacy
While Isenhouer could have opted for an all-fiberglass body, he chose instead to run a full steel cab and doors. It is an odd choice, considering the weight frugality of the 6100 Spec class. The decision had little to do with a competitive edge. It was all about paying homage to the legacy of desert racing and its current evolution.
Championship Platform
Isenhouer's first race truck started out as his high-school daily—a stock 1998 Ford Ranger. Over time he built it up and began racing alongside his brother Chris and his 1969 F-100. After winning the 1450 Championship in 2015, Nick sold the Ranger and began working with Eversen Performance to build a tube chassis platform for his newly-acquired 1995 F-150.
Best Event
The Isenhouer brothers finished the truck in 2020. Even with its steel cab, Door Slammer weighs in at a meager 6100lbs—race ready. Next, they put it to the test at an event near Las Vegas, Nevada. Two years later they returned, placing first in the coveted 6100 class and sixth overall against some of the best drivers in the business.
Peak Crate
The truck's success is due in part to its high-output motor. Deviating from the Ford regime, the Isenhouer brothers chose to run a 6.2 liter LS3, produced by Chevrolet Performance. Out of the box, the crate engine offers a peak output of 430 horsepower at 5900 RPM. With allowed modifications, the LS3 reportedly now stamps out 525 horsepower.
Hot Bletch
The truck might be all 'go,' but it has a little 'show' as well. For starters, it is louder than any other competitor on the course. The exhaust is routed out of the bedsides through a wicked-sounding 8 into 1 configuration. For an added surprise, at the slightest lift of the throttle, unburnt fuel ignites and the hot pipes belch flames.
Loaded Winner
On the business side of things, the LS3 motor is coupled to a Culhane TH400 transmission and tied to an Evan Weller Racing Differential. The front and rear suspensions are from KDM Shock Technologies. Method Race Wheels are wrapped in a hefty set of BF Goodrich Baja T/A tires. Hands down, Isenhouer's truck is a winner, plus it is loaded with nostalgic character!
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