What’s better than a Shelby GT500-powered off-road pickup? Winning a free one, plus some fun money on top. And what’s better than that? Knowing that you’re helping a good cause at the same time. Yesterday at the Barrett-Jackson 2026 Scottsdale Auction, chairman and CEO Craig Jackson announced a sweepstakes with a 2026 Ford F-150 Raptor R and $20,000 as the top prize. Knowing that proceeds will benefit the African Parks non-profit conservation organization is a great bonus.
Dave and Jill Kimmerle of the Phoenix-based dealership Sanderson Ford will supply the special Agate Black Metallic 2026 Raptor R (which is currently being built). For years, the Ford F-150 Raptor was the king of high-flying off-road trucks, but then Ram released the 2021 TRX, which had a 702-horsepower supercharged Hemi under the hood. The Blue Oval responded by using a 700-horse version of the Shelby GT500 Mustang’s Predator supercharged 5.2-liter V8 to create the 2023 Raptor R. Just one year later, Ford Performance recalibrated the engine to produce 720 horsepower (torque remained 640 lb-ft). A set of 37-inch tires help the Raptor R tear across the desert and launch over dunes; Fox Live Valve shocks cushion its landings.
Rob Walton, Chair of African Parks Foundation of America, said, “We are deeply grateful to be selected as the beneficiary of this remarkable Ford F-150 4×4 Raptor R sweepstakes. African Parks’ mission is to conserve Africa’s most important landscapes and protect the wildlife and communities that depend on them, and this partnership will directly support that effort.” African Parks does that with the help of its thousands of employees, who run 23 parks that spread across nearly 50 million acres on the continent.
After the announcement in the Ford section at WestWorld of Scottsdale, I spoke with Philip R. Welp, a board member of African Parks Foundation, USA, about what his time in Africa working toward community development and greater climate, sustainability, and biodiversity awareness has taught him—and can teach others. He told me that people travel to Africa for the exotic animals, but they return for the loving people they meet there. After all, it’s easier to make an emotional connection with a person who tells you their story than a beautiful creature you see from a distance.
If you’d like to see a 2026 Ford F-150 Raptor R up-close—as in parked in your driveway—and an additional $20,000 in your bank account, enter the sweepstakes now. It’s hosted by Tapkat, a fundraising platform that allows you to enter the drawing by making a charitable contribution here. You can also enter in person at any 2026 Barrett-Jackson auction. To learn more about African Parks, check out the video below.
