Some cars are built in a garage with a race in mind. Others… sort of stumble into the life. Peter Neufeld’s Ford Explorer ST falls into that second category — a family SUV that managed to hold its own against purpose-built drag cars at St. Thomas Raceway.
Peter grew up in Aylmer, Ontario, surrounded by cars. His dad owned a 1983 Mustang GT, and to a young kid, that might as well have been a rocket ship. His older brother had Mustangs too, so naturally, Peter dreamed of joining the family tradition. The only problem? Money. Instead of pony cars, he spent his younger years wrenching on daily drivers — a 2000 Sunfire GT, a 2005 Impala, a 2011 Honda Accord Coupe V6 with a 6-speed, and eventually a 2018 F-150. He even worked at St. Thomas Raceway in his teens, handing out time slips. Back then, drag racing was something he admired from the sidelines. It wasn’t until later that the bug really bit.
Ironically, it all started with a surprise baby. His F-150 had just enough room for five seats, but with the new arrival, the truck had to go. “I refused to get a minivan,” Peter laughs. So he started looking at Explorer Sports. Then he saw the new ST model and realized it had way more potential. The plan was simple: tune it, run mid-to-high 12s, and call it a day. But if you’ve ever been into cars, you know how that story ends — the “just a tune” plan went out the window real quick.
The Explorer was in great condition when Peter got it, but that didn’t last long. He started with a ZFG tune on 93 octane, but heat soak killed performance after a run or two. That meant a CVF intercooler. Then came exhaust — first an MBRP cat-back, which didn’t sound right, then an AWE 3” cat-back that hit the note perfectly. Lightweight 22-inch wheels saved 11 pounds per corner, an S&B intake went in (later swapped for a Fenfab V2), and each change shaved fractions off his trap speeds.
The turning point came when he linked up with Adam at ZFG. After 14 tune revisions — including a push into E50 ethanol mixes — the SUV became one of the fastest Explorer STs in the country on stock turbos and stock fueling. CVF even jumped in to sponsor him with downpipes and charge pipes to help him in a competition. This “family hauler” wasn’t just quick — it was setting benchmarks.
And the numbers prove it: 11.4 @ 119 mph with full weight. 11.1 @ 122 mph with the seats pulled out.
Still, what makes it wild isn’t just the timeslips. It’s the fact that Peter is running those numbers in a three-row SUV with cooled seats, a massager, and enough room to tow the family camping gear. “It’s awesome lining up against a drag car that came here on a trailer,” he says. “I can keep up or beat them — and then drive home in comfort.”
One race that stands out? A side-by-side battle with a supercharged 5.0 Coyote F-150. Neither truck gave an inch the whole way down. That’s the kind of run that sticks with you.
Naturally, people underestimate the Explorer. “Everyone did at first,” Peter says. But once they see the times, the conversations start. Reactions are usually disbelief: the ST is two seconds faster than cars people expect to be fast, like new Mustang GTs or Camaros. And when Peter tells them it’ll do 0–60 in just over three seconds, the jaws drop even lower.
Despite all that, this is still his daily. Every grocery run, every commute, every errand happens in the same Explorer that cracks elevens on the weekend. The only other car in his driveway is a 1996 Mustang GT — a cruiser by comparison.
As for the future? The Explorer’s transmission is starting to feel the strain after 350 quarter-mile passes. Peter’s now in talks with Southdown Garage to sponsor a fully built transmission, plus a high-pressure fuel pump and injectors. That should be enough to push the ST into the 10s — the next goal on his list. Long term, he’s chasing the crown of the fastest stock-turbo, stock-fuel Explorer in the game. And when that transmission is ready, he wants a shot at a C8 Corvette. “With the seats out, I think I’ll edge one out,” he says with a grin.
Peter Neufeld may not have started with a Mustang like his dad and brother, but what he built is even more unexpected: a three-row Ford Explorer that can run with the legends. And honestly? That’s exactly what makes him one.
If you want to keep up with his builds, future races, and all the madness he’s cooking up next, check out his social media pages below. And don’t forget to show some love to the sponsor who helps keep this Street Legend on the road — link’s right here too.
Peter’s youtube – GrimEcoBooST – YouTube
Peter’s Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/grimecoboost/#
SouthDown Garage – https://shopsouthdowngarage.ca/
