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.

The 2021 Show opened this morning, officially kicking off with an industry breakfast featuring some of the hottest new products and special guest Jay Leno teasing a customized Mustang built for musician Keith Urban. With more than 1,300 exhibiting companies and 51,000 buyers confirmed to date, this year’s SEMA Show—which runs through November 5—marks the first full-facility event to take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center since the pandemic.

This year’s SEMA Show—which runs through November 5—marks the first full-facility event to take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center since the pandemic.

“There is a lot of pent-up demand to reconnect in person,” said SEMA Vice President of Events Tom Gattuso. “Buyers are excited to see what’s new in the industry, and manufacturers are anxious to showcase what they’ve been working on for the past two years. The energy and passion on the Show floor is tremendous.”

Exhibitors wasted no time to showcase their new products and make industry announcements, as customers enthusiastically navigated the convention center seeking to develop new partnerships and strengthen existing ones.

“We believe in the value of the SEMA Show and are excited to see our industry colleagues for the first time in two years,” said OPTIMA Batteries Director of Marketing Cameron Douglass. “We’re thrilled we were able to bring the excitement of the OUSCI race to the Show and have already reconnected with many of our buyers, distributors and partners, setting the stage for a great week.”

To help visitors stay on top of trends and opportunities, the SEMA Show includes a dedicated “SEMA Electrified” area, where new innovations and cutting-edge technology took center stage. Located in the new West Hall, SEMA Electrified includes electric vehicles and products designed for modifying electric vehicles or converting vehicles to electric power. Nearby, an expanded “SEMA Overland Experience” highlights another new profit center for aftermarket businesses. Whether it is rooftop tents, awnings, portable kitchen systems and related products on display, SEMA Overland Experience helps businesses visualize and see the opportunities in the extreme.

Other SEMA Show highlights include the largest collection of Chip Foose-built vehicles featured in a special corral that highlights some of the most influential and important vehicles created at Foose Design; a display of more than 50 off-road racing vehicles ranging from motorcycles to trophy trucks in SCORE’s “Baja 1000 Experience”; an exclusive West Coast Customs Edition wide-body kit on a Dodge Charger and a Dodge Challenger in the West Coast Customs Experience; and interactive driving demos in the Hoonigan Burnyard Bash and the “Ford Out Front” experience.

“This is something we haven’t been able to do for almost two years, and we wouldn’t miss the opportunity to connect with manufacturers and others at SEMA 2021,” said Daryl Sampson, Turn 14 Distribution vice president of marketing. “We’ve upped our participation this year, and all three of our booths have received a tremendous response already, and we’re looking forward to a productive and memorable week.”

For more information about the Nov. 2-5, 2021 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com.

The Best New Products Award winners were announced this morning during the New Product Awards Breakfast at the 2021 SEMA Show. The awards are given to the most innovative and cutting-edge automotive aftermarket products that will be consumable in 2022.

SEMA’s annual New Product Awards competition recognizes outstanding achievements in the development of products being introduced to the automotive specialty-equipment market at the SEMA Show. Products are judged in 16 award categories, and each category has one winner and two runners-up.

More than 1,300 were entered into the 16 different Showcase categories to be considered for a SEMA New Product Award this year. Winners were selected based on a variety of factors that included superiority of innovation, technical achievement, quality and workmanship, consumer appeal and marketability and more.

The New Product Award Winners are:

Collision Repair & Refinish Product
Winner: Keco Collision Glue Pull Repair System, Keco Body Repair Products
Runner Up: Eagle, Celette Inc.
Runner Up: Drain Cleaner SR250, Reliable Automotive Equipment Inc.

Engineered New Product
Winner: Electronic StraightGate 50, Turbosmart
Runner Up: Kaizen Relay, Kaizen Speed LLC
Runner Up: Smart Cap Module (SCM) – Integrated Damper Position Sensor, Off Road Research

Exterior Accessory Product
Winner: Lippert: Protective MultiPro/Multi-Flex Tailgate Sensor with Hitch Cap, CURT, Ranch Hand, UWS, LUVERNE, ARIES
Runner Up: Windshield Gard, Targe Industries
Runner Up: 4WP Factory Bronco front bumper, 4WP Factory/Pro Comp/Rubicon Express/Smittybilt

Interior Accessory Product
Winner: Cargo Dog, Cargo Dog
Runner Up: Speedway Motors Self Cancelling Turn Signal Switch, Speedway Motors
Runner Up: RetroSound Denver Radio, Retro Manufacturing LLC

Merchandising Display
Winner: Countertop or Wall Display for HEIGH10 Infotainment Unit, Stinger Off-Road
Runner Up: Floor Display for HEIGH10 Infotainment Unit, Stinger Off-Road
Runner Up: BD-Built 6.7L Cummins Injector Stockplus (0986435621) RAM Pickup ’13–’18, BD Diesel

Mobile Electronics Product
Winner: XAV-AX9500ES, Sony Car Audio
Runner Up: Cube GPS Tracker, Cube Tracker
Runner Up: Interior Ambient Lighting, VAIS Technology

Off-Road/4-Wheel Drive Product
Winner: CDEV Shock Powered By IIC, ICON Vehicle Dynamics
Runner Up: Dirt Dynamix Universal Truck Bed Pole Mount, Dirt Dynamix
Runner Up: Vehicle Recovery Kit – Baja, Warn/Factor 55/Fabtech

Packaging Design
Winner: APB Pedal Pads American Handcraft Wooden Package, APB Brakes
Runner Up: RetroSound Huntington Radio, Retro Manufacturing LLC
Runner Up: Driver Fatigue Monitoring System, HIMA Lighting

Performance-Racing Product
Winner: Electronic StraightGate 50, Turbosmart
Runner Up: OPTIMA YELLOWTOP Group Size H7, OPTIMA Batteries
Runner Up: Kaizen Relay, Kaizen Speed LLC

Performance-Street Product
Winner: ZZ632/1000 Crate Engine, General Motors
Runner Up: Venom CP3 Conversion Kit RAM 6.7L Pickup 2500/3500 ’19–’20, BD Diesel
Runner Up: Eluminator Mach E Motor, Ford Motor Company

Powersports Product
Winner: ’16–’21 Polaris XPT Flex Fuel Kit, Dynojet Research
Runner Up: Kaizen Relay With Control Module, Kaizen Speed LLC
Runner Up: ProFit2 Profile Cage Clamps, Scosche Industries Inc.

Street Rod/Custom Car Product
Winner: Icon Valve Cover, Pyramid Optimized Design & Manufacturing
Runner Up: Kaizen Relay With Control Module, Kaizen Speed LLC
Runner Up: MB419 Ultra-Compact Multi-Function Controller Steering Wheel Control Board, MuxWiring

Tire and Related Product
Winner: Baja Legend EXP, Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels
Runner Up: Discoverer Snow Claw, Cooper Tire
Runner Up: ET Street Front, Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels

Tools & Equipment Product
Winner: EZ Roller-Spinner, EZ Spare and JAWS
Runner Up: Buffer with compound dispensing system, Super Shiner
Runner Up: Last Drop Wrench – Aluminum LDW80mm14F, Last Drop Wrench

Van/Pickup/Sport-Utility Product
Winner: Impact Shock-Absorbing Rear Bumper Step Fleet Kit, Lippert: CURT, Ranch Hand, UWS, LUVERNE, ARIES
Runner Up: ’21+ GM SUV 2"/4" Lowering Kit, Max Trac Suspension
Runner Up: Roll-N-Lock M-Series XT, Truck Hero

Wheel and Related Product
Winner: Carbon One, Litespeed Racing
Runner Up: GUNISPARE, GUNIWHEEL
Runner Up: WARN Diamond Cutter Wheels, Warn/Factor 55/Fabtech