SEMA has announced the Top 12 finalists in the eighth annual SEMA Battle of the Builders competition—the event that determines the builder the aftermarket community considers the best. These builders represent an elite group of individuals who have demonstrated extreme talent, creativity and craftsmanship in modifying cars, trucks and SUVs.

Back row, left to right: Simo Veharanta, Mark Giambalvo, Eddie Pettus, Jeremey Miranda, Bob Matranga, Mike Filion, and Dayton Jacobsen. Front row, left to right: Samantha Frazier, Chelsie Lesnoski, Cole Marten, Bryan Thompson, and Kamaka Pocock.

The 2021 Battle of the Builders Top 12 finalists are:

Hot Rod

• Mike Fillion—’56 Oldsmobile 98    
• Mark Giambalvo—’30 Ford Model A 2-Door Sedan    
• Robert Matranga—’55 Chevrolet Bel Air    

Sport Compact/Import

• Samantha Frazier—’73 Nissan Datsun 240Z    
• Eddie Pettus—’61 Austin Healey Sprite    
• Simo Veharanta—’82 Porsche 911 RSR    

Truck & Off-Road

• Jeremy Miranda—’59 Chevrolet Apache    
• Kamaka Pocock—’67 Chevrolet C10    
• Bryan Thompson—’34 Ford Pickup    

Young Guns

• Dayton Jacobson—’00 Chevrolet S10    
• Chelsie Lesnoski—’93 Mazda RX-7 FD    
• Cole Marten—’91 Nissan Skyline R32 GTR    

Industry experts narrowed the field to select the Top 12 finalists, who will now judge one another on Friday at the SEMA Show and vote to determine who will be named the Ultimate Builder of the 2021 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

The SEMA Battle of the Builders winner will be announced before the start of SEMA Ignited, taking place after the trade-only SEMA Show closes, on Friday, November 5, from 3:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m., in the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) West Hall Parking Lot (300 Convention Center Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89109). Hundreds of vehicles will exit the Las Vegas Convention Center after the SEMA Show for the SEMA Cruise and make their way to SEMA Ignited. Formula DRIFT demonstrations, exhibitors, products and celebrities from the SEMA Show will be on-hand, along with food trucks, music and entertainment.

SEMA Ignited is open to the public and allows enthusiasts a chance to see many of the industry’s latest in automotive accessories on several of the 2021 SEMA Show vehicles that were on display during the Show.

To secure a ticket or more information about SEMA Ignited, visit www.semaignited.com. For more information on the competition, visit www.semabotb.com.

Here's a look at several 2021 SEMA Show custom vehicles that attendees will see throughout the Las Vegas Convention Center.

SEMA Ignited, the official after-party of the SEMA Show, returns to Las Vegas, Friday, November 5. Since 2014, SEMA Ignited has taken place at the conclusion of the four-day SEMA Show, providing consumers and the general public an opportunity to see and experience the mystique from the exclusive automotive aftermarket trade event.

This year’s SEMA Ignited takes place Friday, November 5, from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (PDT), at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) West Hall parking lot.

No guaranteed grandstand seating. 2021 SEMA Show attendees get in free with their badges.

Need a PCR test before you travel home?

We got you covered with onsite testing available in the North Hall, room N116. Photo ID is required for the test. Visit www.labport.app/sema or scan the QR Code below.

Dates and Times of Testing:

• Wednesday, November 3, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Thursday, November 4, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Friday, November 5, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Here’s a quick look at just some of the vehicles attendees will see staged out front of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The Toyo Treadpass, located between the Central and South Halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center, acts as a stage to debut and highlight new and unique custom vehicles at the SEMA Show.

Here is a sample of the vehicles attendees will see.

Be among the thousands of attendees who pass through the exhibit each day, as Toyo mixes it up with a 35-car lineup of off-road vehicles next to exotics, various Japanese favorites, European classics and domestic muscle, along with a pair of art installations.

There’s a lot going on in the West Coast Customs (WCC) SEMA Show booth #7100. For starters, WCC and LMCT+ have teamed up to launch an automotive rewards program to benefit auto suppliers and service providers. Consumer members of the program will be rewarded with inclusive sweepstakes to win customized vehicles, including a Ford Raptor Trophy Truck, which is on display at the WCC booth.

Also on display are exclusive WCC Edition wide-body kits on both a Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger. In addition, WCC is debuting never-seen-before car artwork minted into NFTs. Booth visitors can learn about the NFT world and have a chance to take home exclusive SEMA NFTs from the Porsche RSR, which WCC has on display. CEO Ryan Friedlinghaus and celebrity guests are available for meet and greets, photo opportunities and autograph sessions.

Finally, WCC is introducing the auto world to Display Social—a new social-media platform designed to help brands and content providers monetize their content and drive merchandise sales.

The famed NHRA Breakfast was held Wednesday morning at the 2021 SEMA Show at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino Paradise Events Center.

This year’s breakfast, hosted by NHRA on FOX’s Brian Lohnes, highlighted NHRA’s next generation of team owners, and featured live interviews and autograph sessions with Antron Brown, Josh Hart and Krista Baldwin. In addition, NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycles were on display.

More NHRA action can be found at the NHRA on FOX stage, booth #10000.

The best new vehicles for personalization were announced at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Voted on by exhibiting manufacturers, the SEMA Awards are presented annually to recognize the top trending vehicle models in five categories:

• Car of the Year: Ford Mustang
• Sport Compact of the Year: Toyota Supra
• 4x4/SUV of the Year: Ford Bronco
• Full-Size Truck of the Year: Ford F-Series
• Mid-Size Truck of the Year: Toyota Tacoma

“The SEMA Award celebrates the industry’s unique ability to identify and set trends that influence automotive enthusiast worldwide,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. “Consumers are able to look to SEMA Award winners for guidance on which vehicles offer the greatest opportunities for customization.”

The 2021 SEMA Award winners (L–R): Lisa Materazzo, group vice president, Toyota Marketing; Dave Pericak, engineering director, unibody applications, Ford; Chris Kersting, president and CEO, SEMA; Jackie DiMarco, F-Series chief program manager, Ford; Phil Collaraeno, executive director for global programs, Ford.

The 2021 SEMA Award-winning models are featured throughout the 1.25 million sq.-ft. Las Vegas Convention Center, each uniquely customized to highlight the many aftermarket products and accessories that are available for the vehicles.

Aftermarket manufacturers are investing more in the Ford Mustang, Toyota Supra, Ford F-Series, Toyota Tacoma and Ford Bronco than any other vehicles. Consumers, therefore, can expect to find greater options for accessorizing these vehicles.

To learn more about the SEMA Show, award winners and the products that are available for them, visit www.semashow.com.

SEMA announced the Top 40 builders in the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, which honors and recognizes builders at the SEMA Show.

The 2021 Battle of the Builders Top 40 are (by category):

Hot Rod

• Brett Schmeski—’69 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS    
• Mark Giambalvo—’30 Ford Model A 2-Door Sedan    
• Lonnie Gilbertson—’65 Chevrolet Corvair    
• Josh “Red” Gosnell—’67 Ford Mustang Fastback    
• Troy Gudgel—’34 Ford 5 Window Coupe    
• Troy Gudgel—’69 Pontiac Firebird    
• Mike Fillion —’56 Oldsmobile 98    
• Robert Matranga—’55 Chevrolet Bel Air    
• Jeremy Miranda—’67 Chevrolet Camaro    
• Eddie Pettus—’41 Willys Coupe    

Sport Compact/Import

• Ryan Basseri—’07 Honda S2000    
• Shawn Bassett—’99 Lexus GS300    
• Peter Filippo—’19 BMW M2     
• Samantha Frazier—’73 Nissan Datsun 240Z    
• Paul Garcia—’99 Nissan Skyline GTR VSPEC    
• Marcus Fry—’72 Nissan 240z    
• Eddie Pettus—’61 Austin Healey Sprite    
• John Sarkisyan—’55 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL     
• Neil Tjin—’19 Ford Mach-E    
• Simo Veharanta—’82 Porsche 911 RSR    

Truck & Off-Road

• Willie Davis—’71 Ford F100    
• Brad Deberti—’65 Chevrolet C10    
• Keith Kyker—’69 Ford F100    
• Jeremy Miranda—’59 Chevrolet Apache    
• Craig Piggott—’74 Ford Bronco    
• Kamaka Pocock—’67 Chevrolet C10    
• Daniel Smalley—’58 Chevrolet Apache    
• Bryan Thompson—’34 Ford Pickup    
• John Wargo—’68 Chevrolet C10    
• Randy Weaver—’65 GMC C10    

Young Guns

• Kaylee Crayton—’13 Scion FR-S    
• Thomas Dickerson—’67 Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang    
• Ezra Evans—’51 Ford F1     
• Dayton Jacobson—’00 Chevrolet S10    
• Chelsie Lesnoski—’93 Mazda RX-7 FD    
• Cole Marten—’91 Nissan Skyline R32 GTR    
• Jonas Neels—’08 GMC Sierra 2500 HD    
• James Thomas—’49 Ford F1
• Joe Wilder—’69 Chevrolet Camaro     
• Corey Williams—’68 Dodge Charger    

The Battle of the Builders Top 12 will be announced in SEMA Central, on Wednesday, November 3, at 1:30 p.m. These 12 finalists, chosen by industry judges, represent the best of the best in the industry.