SEMA 2019: 2020 Ford Explorer Provides Race Track Support

Spotted at SEMA, this flashy-looking Explorer keeps things running smoothly at Trans Am races around the country.

SEMA is a wild time. There’s nothing else on Earth quite like it. In fact, we can’t imagine anywhere else in the world where you’re likely to see so many amazing, high-dollar custom Ford trucks.

From custom street style to off-road monsters, it’s all there in droves at SEMA. We were at the show all last week, and we’ve still got more to show you.

This 2020 Ford Explorer, by Prefix Corporation, is nether of those things.  Instead, the Explorer has been modified as a race track support vehicle.

The Explorer’s bright red paint might look familiar to eagle-eyed Ford fans. It’s the same hue found on the Ford GT supercar, because Prefix Corporation is subcontracted by Ford to paint the Ford GT. From the look of things, it seems they’ve lavished the same attention on this more utilitarian vehicle.

The Ford GT’s white stripes even make an appearance on the hood, roof, and tailgate of the explorer. Inside, the same color motif appears on a box in the cargo area, filled with support equipment and topped with safety helmets.

Built to support the Trans Am Road Racing Series, the Prefix Explorer has a few modifications designed to help it do its job. Support vehicles have to perform many tasks at the race track, and it has to do all of them well. It’s a good thing that the Explorer is one of the best SUVs available right now.

The Prefix Explorer has a lowered suspension to help with handling during high-speed maneuvers. However, the truck also has a protorype Ford Performance skid plate, since the truck will be off the track surface much of the time.

Whelen supplied emergency lighting and sirens, while ER3 fire extinguishers also find a home on the truck. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that the massive on-board storage box houses an impressive first-aid kit.

Recaro race seats keep race officials planted at all times, in all conditions. A Warn winch assists with recovery, while a Yakima roof rack provides additional storage capacity.

Despite its intended use, we’d be really happy with this truck as a daily driver. That really says something about our commute, doesn’t it?

Photos by Derin Richardson for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

Cameron Vanderhorst

Cam VanDerHorst has been a contributor to Internet Brands' Auto Group sites for over three years, with his byline appearing on Ford Truck Enthusiasts, Corvette Forum, JK Forum, and Harley-Davidson Forums, among others. In that time, he's also contributed to Autoweek, The Drive, and Scale Auto Magazine.

He bought his first car at age 14 -- a 1978 Ford Mustang II -- and since then he’s amassed an impressive and diverse collection of cars, trucks, and motorcycles, including a 1996 Ford Mustang SVT Mystic Cobra (#683) and a classic air-cooled Porsche 911.

In addition to writing about cars and wrenching on them in his spare time, he enjoys playing music (drums and ukulele), building model cars, and tending to his chickens.

You can follow Cam, his cars, his bikes, and his chickens at @camvanderhorst on Instagram.

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