By SEMA Editors
 Cody Allen won the SEMA Young Guns regional award at the 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals with his ’13 Ford F-350, and received an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas to enter the Battle of the Builders competition at the 2018 SEMA Show. |
The 2018 SEMA Young Guns Regional Program continues its nationwide tour looking to support young talent and foster the future growth of the automotive aftermarket industry. The program provides car builders age 27 or younger throughout the country an opportunity to showcase their vehicles at the 2018 SEMA Show, held October 30–November 2, in Las Vegas.
“Young Guns is a strategic initiative to build excitement and involvement among younger builders in our industry,” said SEMA Chairman of the Board Wade Kawasaki. “We’ve been very pleased with the reception to the program so far, and we’re thrilled to build upon its success.”
This past weekend thousands of automotive enthusiasts gathered in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, for the Bonnier-produced 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals, where Cody Allen hoisted the coveted SEMA Young Guns regional award. Allen won an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas to enter his ’13 Ford F-350 into the Battle of the Builders competition and will receive a designated feature spot at the 2018 SEMA Show—a unique benefit reserved exclusively for exhibitors.
“The 31st Annual Summer A&A Auto Stores 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals proved to be a terrific venue to spotlight young builders,” said Ira Gabriel, SEMA vice president of marketing, PR and communications. “There were many great young builders in the program, and SEMA is excited to expand the SEMA Young Guns program and give younger enthusiasts, such as Cody, who may not already have a vehicle at the 2018 SEMA Show, an opportunity to network with industry leaders at the trade-only event.”
Regional Young Guns winners will compete alongside industry icons during the 2018 SEMA Battle of the Builders contest, which is the basis for a nationwide television special that will premiere on the Velocity Channel. New for 2018 is the recognition of an overall Young Guns winner from the Top 10 finalists chosen by industry judges.
To qualify for the Young Guns designation at each of the regional shows, a builder must be 27 or younger by the final night of the SEMA Show, November 2, and be registered at the participating regional show.
For more information, including a list of participating regional events, visit www.semashow.com/botb.