By SEMA News Editors

In collaboration with General Motors (GM), the SEMA Garage is hosting a next-level measuring session like never before, featuring EIGHT brand-new '25 GM vehicles all in one place!

✔ 3D Scan and Measure
✔ Develop Products
✔ Test-Fit Prototypes
✔ Exclusive Close-Up Experience

SEMA members will gain unprecedented access to 3D scan, test-fit, measure and interact with these cutting-edge vehicles up close. This is a rare chance to explore GM's future-forward lineup, all under one roof. Click here or the button below to RSVP.

SEMA Garage/GM Measuring Session
August 20-21, 2025
SEMA Garage Detroit
14655 Jib St., Plymouth, MI 48170
View on Google Maps.

By Ashley Reyes

Following the industry's devastating loss of Automotive Racing Products (ARP) brand ambassador and racer Chris Raschke on August 3, SEMA is establishing the Chris Raschke Legacy Scholarship to honor his life, legacy and passion for the automotive industry.  

The scholarship will be part of the SEMA Scholarship Memorial Fund, which supports students pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket. Through this scholarship, SEMA will ensure that Raschke's influence and dedication continue to inspire the next generation. Industry members interested in contributing to the Chris Raschke Legacy Scholarship can do so online here and at the button below.

Raschke, 60, passed away following a crash at Bonneville Speed Week in Tooele County, Utah, while piloting the Speed Demon streamliner. The Speed Demon team had achieved a best run of 459.734 mph last year and was seeking a historic 500-mph record attempt in 2025. Known for his technical brilliance, Raschke was a staple in both landspeed racing and the engine-building community. Read more about his legacy here.

Raschke's celebration of life is on Saturday, August 23, 2025.  

Applications for the 2026 SEMA Scholarship Program will open January 1, 2026, at sema.org/scholarships.  

By SEMA News Editors

By connecting early, exhibitors can spark interest, schedule meetings in advance and ensure that buyers arrive ready to talk business.

Exhibitors at the 2025 SEMA Show, November 4–7, Las Vegas, now have a powerful new way to maximize their ROI and strengthen customer relationships: the brand-new "Invite a Customer" program. 

Now available in the SEMA Show Exhibitor Resource Center, this complimentary tool makes it easy to reach out directly to customers, prospects and guests with a personalized email invitation to register for both the SEMA Show (at the Las Vegas Convention Center) and the 2025 AAPEX (November 4-6, at The Venetian Expo and Caesar's Forum).

By using this feature to connect with customers before the SEMA Show, exhibitors can set the stage for valuable in-person conversations and ensure their booth is on every buyer's must-visit list. Pre-Show outreach using the "Invite a Customer" tool creates buzz before the doors even open, driving more booth traffic and increasing the chance for meaningful, high-value conversations on the Show floor.

Exhibitors can choose from three easy ways to invite customers:

• Share a unique promotional registration link that lets customers register directly. Forward that link to your customers or in an email blast, and they can begin the registration process.
• Use the complimentary Invite a Customer email service, which provides a pre-programmed message with your unique registration link and promotion code. The email informs customers about your booth at the SEMA Show and invites them to attend. There are no limits to the number of email lists or recipients for this free, pre-programmed feature.
• Share a unique Customer Pass Code for customers to enter during online registration.

With no cost to use this valuable Show feature--including a ready-to-use email template and no limit on recipients--the Invite a Customer program ensures your key contacts know exactly where to find you at the SEMA Show.

Don't miss this opportunity to put your brand front and center. Start inviting your customers below today!

Exhibitors should frequently check the complete list of deadlines for the 2025 SEMA Show using the Exhibitor Services Manual found at semashow.com/esm. The Manual is the one-stop shop for all things related to exhibiting at the SEMA Show and contains everything companies need to know to exhibit like a pro, including deadline and budget checklists.

Exhibitors can also lock in the guaranteed lowest hotel rates by booking in the official SEMA Show Block provided by OnPeak.

Have questions or need help accessing the "Invite a Customer" program? Call us at 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, at 508-743-8571 or email AAPEXSEMA@maritz.com.

By SEMA News Editors

In collaboration with General Motors (GM), the SEMA Garage is hosting a next-level measuring session like never before, featuring EIGHT brand-new '25 GM vehicles all in one place!

✔ 3D Scan and Measure
✔ Develop Products
✔ Test-Fit Prototypes
✔ Exclusive Close-Up Experience

SEMA members will gain unprecedented access to 3D scan, test-fit, measure and interact with these cutting-edge vehicles up close. This is a rare chance to explore GM's future-forward lineup, all under one roof. Click here or the button below to RSVP.

SEMA Garage/GM Measuring Session
August 20-21, 2025
SEMA Garage Detroit
14655 Jib St., Plymouth, MI 48170
View on Google Maps.

By Juan Torres

The SEMA Show Online Media Center is now available for exhibiting companies to submit Show-related press releases to be included on the SEMA Show website. 

Companies exhibiting at the 2025 SEMA Show can submit press releases to generate excitement for products and Show-related announcements, such as guest and celebrity appearances, descriptions of new products planned for display, special booth vehicles, product giveaways and more.  

This free benefit for exhibitors provides an added exposure opportunity. With thousands of media in attendance at the SEMA Show, exhibiting companies will benefit by spotlighting their newest and most innovative products to direct media attention to their booths. Press releases submitted may also be used in association publications, social media platforms and promoted to media attendees. The Online Media Center was designed specifically for journalists to find Show-related news and announcements. 

An easy-to-read press release with relevant content can create a lasting impression, generate media coverage and ultimately drive traffic to an exhibitor’s booth. Exhibitors can upload their press releases to semashow.com/press-release. 

Compiled by Cristian Gonzalez

Last year's SEMA Battle of the Builders overall winner crown went to Noah Alexander and the '68 Dodge Charger from the Hot Rod/Hot Rod Truck category.

A new band of builders is readying their project vehicles to take the stage at the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas for the ultimate car-building competition: Battle of the Builders (BOTB) Presented by Mothers Polish. The annual competition sets out to find the most well-built and innovative vehicles in the automotive aftermarket across four unique categories: 4 Wheel Drive & Off-Road; Hot Rod & Hot Rod Truck; Sport Compact, Import Performance, Luxury & Exotic; and Young Guns (contestants 29 and under). 

In the short period leading up to the SEMA Show, a four-judge panel comprised of industry leaders will narrow the field from hundreds of vehicles to 40--10 from each category--which will be announced on the first day of Show Week at the BOTB stage in North Hall (booth #10168). As the week progresses, the contenders are further winnowed as the competition intensifies.  

BOTB is an exciting outlet that showcases the creativity, ingenuity and style driving the current state of the aftermarket. Winners walk away with unmatched bragging rights, along with new marketing and networking opportunities. What makes BOTB especially unique is that once the final four builds are selected--one from each category--the builders themselves come together to decide who among them deserves the top honor. 

What follows is a sneak peek at a small handful of contending cars, trucks, hot-rods and more, and what about their construction makes them unique. Keep an eye on SEMA News for more Battle of the Builders previews, and visit SEMAShow.com for event scheduling. Can't make it to Vegas this November? Be sure to follow along on SEMA Live, the SEMA Show's live virtual broadcast capturing all key moments of BOTB and the biggest activations happening during Show Week. 

RON JONES 
'73 VOLKSWAGEN THING 
Category: 4 WHEEL DRIVE & OFF-ROAD 

This '73 Volkswagen Thing was coachbuilt entirely from the ground up by the Ron Jones Garage with enough modifications to make it unrecognizable from its stock format. Fox long-travel coilovers attach to the one-off chromoly long-travel chassis. Apart from the windshield frame, every body panel on the Thing was handbuilt and boasts more than 350 machined parts. Staying true to its German heritage, a fuel-injected Porsche Type 930/50 engine stroked to a 3.2L with a MoTeC standalone ECU powers the build and pairs to a gearbox pulled from a 996. Also harvested from a Porsche 997 is the torque tube and front differential. The custom interior was designed and installed by PJ's Upholstery in Commerce City, Colorado. 
 

TROY TREPANIER 
'36 FORD ROADSTER 
Category: HOT ROD & HOT ROD TRUCK

Winner of the America's Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) award at the Grand National Roadster Show in January, this art piece was built from the ground up by Troy Trepanier and his team at Rad Rides. Designed to resemble a '36 roadster, the build required reworking the proportions to suit an open-wheel configuration—meaning every component, from the body and chassis to the suspension and machined parts, was designed and fabricated in-house. Furthermore, all paint and interior work was done in-house as well. A supercharged Ford 312ci Y-block engine paired with a quick-change rear axle powers the custom hot rod, which features a torsion-bar suspension. The roadster may be an AMBR winner, but how will it fare against other builds yet to be revealed? 

CHANCE DIXON 
'46 CHEVROLET 3100 
Category: HOT ROD & HOT ROD TRUCK 

What do you get out of Chance Dixon's Grim Reaper Speed Shop? A Mad Max-style hot-rod truck ready to cause some havoc in the wastelands. The heavily patinaed body is joined to a custom-built chassis fabricated by Dixon, utilizing Village Customs' front cantilever air ride and a triangle four-link rear setup. The exposed twin-turbo third-gen LS features Texas Speed internals and ICT Billet parts. Its most unique feature is the intriguing intake that comes up into the cab, allowing for a 180-degree turn back out. "It leaves many people scratching their heads wondering how it works," says Dixon. At car meets, he allows youngsters to play with the air ride, spreading interest and curiosity for the next generation of enthusiasts.

CODY DABNEY 
'69 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE 
Category: SPORT COMPACT, IMPORT PERFORMANCE, LUXURY & EXOTIC 

Concept art for Cody Dabney's Chevelle project offers a competitive look into what's in store for this year's BOTB. Three-stage aurelium bronze pearl paint highlights the sharp body lines. The rear features a custom rear diffuser with integrated dual-exhaust outlets, and Greening wheels with mini tubs and flush-mounted glass complete the exterior. The cockpit is entirely bespoke, featuring a Velocity hand-built leather interior, leather-wrapped six-point roll cage, custom Velocity billet components and boasts Holley EFI digital gauges. A Roadster Shop Fast Track chassis serves as the foundation for the Chevy, bearing a Nelson twin-turbo LS 427 V8 bolted to a Tremec T-56 manual transmission. 

TRAVIS SANCHEZ 
'66 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 
Category: YOUNG GUNS  

The C2 Corvettes have aged like fine wines, fitting for the paint job Travis Sanchez has chosen for his. The custom widebody and scoops bring new life to the already timeless model. Adding to the modernization are Restomod-Tech's hide-away headlights, which provide a more aggressive lighting pose. Equipped with an LS3 engine and a 6L80E transmission, the build comes alive with full 3-in. Borla exhausts with cutouts for side pipes. The powertrain locks into a Roadster Shop chassis and is cradled by a smooth fabricated firewall. Performance Baer brakes complement one-off luxury wheels from Avant Garde, making this restomod a formidable contender. 

Attendee registration for the 2025 SEMA Show, November 4-7 in Las Vegas, is now available online here. Online registration for qualified professional attendees is $75 per person through Friday, September 26. Starting September 27, the rate increases to $100 for both online and onsite registration. A SEMA Show badge includes access to both the SEMA Show and AAPEX.

For updates on SEMA Fest, the one-day musical and motorsports festival on Friday, November 7, or to purchase "SEMA Show Friday – Open to the Public" tickets, visit semafest.com.

By SEMA News Editors

Turbo Tires, an Irwindale, California-based, high-performance tire manufacturer, has promoted Todd Tyler to president of the company, effective immediately.

Tyler has been with the company for three years and will continue to serve as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer.

In his new role, Tyler will be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of Turbo Tires and its Lexani, Lionhart and Rolling Big Power brands, and will work closely with the executive team to drive continued innovation, expand the company's market share and deliver value to Turbo Tires' customers and partners, according to the company.

"I am honored and excited to take on this new role at Turbo Tires," said Tyler. "Over the past three years, I've had the privilege of being a part of this incredible team and witnessing the growth and success of our brands. As president, my top priority will be to build on this momentum, further strengthen our market position, and ensure that we continue to deliver the high-quality, innovative tires that our customers have come to expect."

"Todd's deep understanding of our business, proven track record of success, and unwavering commitment to our team and customers make him the ideal choice to lead Turbo Tires as our new president," said Phillip Kane, CEO. "We are confident that under his leadership, Turbo Tires will continue to thrive and solidify its position as a leading innovator in the tire industry."

For more information, visit turbotires.com.

By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Truck & Off-Road Alliance (TORA) named Nic Brooks, director at Adventure Lifestyle, as the council's newest spotlight member. Get to know Brooks in his interview with SEMA News below. 

SEMA News: What inspired you to pursue a career in the truck and off-road industry? 

Nic Brooks: I've always had a passion for vehicles and how they work, especially in demanding environments like off-road terrain. What really inspired me to pursue a career in the truck and off-road industry was the community and culture surrounding it, which consists of people who value hard work, dependability and pushing limits. It's an industry where practical engineering meets adventure, and that combination really motivates me to be part of it and contribute to its growth.

SN: Why did you decide to volunteer for TORA?

NB: As a current TORA member, Adventure Lifestyle is proud to strongly support the organization. Both TORA and Adventure Lifestyle share common goals--raising industry standards and helping shape the future of the off-road and truck-accessory markets. Additionally, I would be personally interested in volunteering to serve as a member-at-large.  

SN: What advice do you have for someone pursuing a career in the automotive aftermarket? 

NB: When you're passionate about something, pursue it relentlessly with everything you have. Put your heart into it, and strive to elevate not just yourself, but everything and everyone around you.

SN: What is your dream truck or off-road vehicle?  

NB: I have a deep passion and genuine love for overlanding. Given that, my ideal setup would be a new model Land Cruiser outfitted for overlanding. A mindful setup that balances reliability, capability and comfort for long-haul adventures. Right now, my daily driver is a Ford Super Duty diesel.

Fill out a TORA-member spotlight form to highlight how you or your company are contributing to the truck and off-road specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates are eligible to be featured on TORA's social media, SEMA News and future TORA member updates. 

By Ashley Reyes

SEMA member companies still have time to sign up for the Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN) Career Fair at SEMA Garage Detroit, a unique opportunity to connect with passionate students and recent graduates who are eager to launch their careers in the automotive aftermarket.

Rescheduled from spring to fall to better accommodate students looking for careers earlier in the school year, the career fair will take place at the SEMA Garage Detroit on Saturday, September 27, from 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. EDT.  

Whether your company is actively hiring or simply looking to support and inspire the industry's future innovators, the ETTN Career Fair provides a valuable setting for meaningful engagement. Participating companies will receive a dedicated space to showcase their brand, connect face-to-face with emerging talent and network with the broader aftermarket community.

Attendees will also have the chance to explore the SEMA Garage Detroit's state-of-the-art tools, equipment and resources that support product development.

Participation is free for SEMA members. Don't miss your chance to boost brand visibility and invest in the industry's future workforce. Secure your spot here.  

By Ashley Reyes

No one understands the automotive aftermarket industry better than the professionals who live and breathe it every day. From passionate business leaders and forward-thinking innovators to SEMA volunteers who go above and beyond to advance their market segment, the industry is powered by people and companies who go above and beyond to serve their communities and advance their market segments.  

To honor individuals and companies making an impact within their specific market segments through innovation, leadership, mentorship or service, SEMA is now accepting nominations for its prestigious Council and Network awards. Nominate today!  

Presented during the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, November 4-7, the awards offer an opportunity to spotlight the people and businesses shaping the future of their industry communities. Whether they're blazing new trails or quietly lifting others up behind the scenes, this is a chance to recognize and thank them for their efforts.  

Know a business that has left a positive impact on its segment? Or a person who has enhanced their community's stature and growth? How about a long-time council member whose contributions have enhanced the industry for the better?  

Don't miss the chance to ensure they're recognized--submit your nomination today!  

Nominees must be current members of the council or network for which they are being nominated. The deadline to submit is Monday, September 1.

Visit sema.org/cn-awards to learn more and submit your nomination.