Meet the Shops From the 2024 PRO Cup Challenge

The 2024 SEMA PRO Cup Challenge was unlike any other, with several new participants submitting great builds based on attractive dealer packages.

Let’s take a look at some of the details from last November’s Challenge and give you some behind-the-scenes information that makes this friendly competition one of the SEMA Show’s premier events.

THE GOAL

The goal of the PCC is to have restylers around the country compete by building a vehicle package with a $12,500 wholesale cost cap that requires no more than 40 hours of labor. Participants use products from manufacturers that are part of the SEMA PRO (Professional Restylers Organization) council, with the aim of creating an attractive, versatile daily driver.

Once the entries are submitted, PRO makes the build sheets available to show which products were used, allowing restylers around the country to duplicate the packages in their local markets.

So, if you’re a restyler who comes to the SEMA Show and visits the PCC booth in the West Hall, realistically you can walk away with six brand-new package ideas to offer your local car dealers, with the guesswork already removed.

NEW WEBSITE

An exciting update from the most recent event was the creation of a dedicated PRO Cup Challenge website that highlights current builds and packages, as well as past winners. You’ll also find manufacturer sign-up forms, builder sign-up forms and a lot more.

The goal is to quickly provide restylers and manufacturers background information and build sheets so these packages can be duplicated on different types of vehicles all over the country. We would also love it if you would post a picture of any builds you do in your market and then tag us on one of our social media outlets (Instagram, Facebook).

Even if you don’t do the exact package but were inspired by one of the builds, please post it and let us know. We’d love your feedback on the new website as well.

6 BUILDERS

For 2024, six builders were chosen to participate. Four of the six had never been in the competition before, so it was exciting to get fresh perspectives from new areas of the country.

Automotive Concepts

First, we had Automotive Concepts, which is a past winner and seasoned restyler from Minneapolis. Dino Perfetti and his team really went outside the box, showing how you can restyle in the fleet upfitting world.

Their 2024 Chevy Silverado W/T is one of the least expensive types of trucks you can find at a dealership—yet they took it and focused on making it look exactly like what any construction professional would want to drive. The wheels and tires were impressive as were the graphics, which gave a taste of how a company could use its truck for marketing and branding.

They then took a white commercial Smart Cap and added a slide-out cargo system and decked it out with a bunch of Milwaukee PACKOUTS, which are super-popular. Next came a workbench with laptop and workstation, and the rack system on top was icing on the cake—an inspiring example for those looking to jump into the fleet world.

Auto Trim Design of Utah

The second builder was Curtis Nielson and his team from Auto Trim Design of Utah. They put together an eye-popping 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe that featured the theme “Into the Wild.”

The SUV included a full color-change wrap, custom leather interior, lift, wheels and tires, and a roof rack with fly rod holder. The gloss green Avery Dennison wrap matched the Katzkin interior leather stitching and brought the vehicle together as a tremendous package.

A professional touch was protecting the gloss wrap with full front-end paint protection film.

MARS of Billings

The third builder was from Billings, Montana. The MARS Nation team, led by Devon Davidson and Spencer Scala, took a Ford Bronco Outer Banks and made it stand out as one of a kind.

Themed the “Predator,” this Bronco nicely tied in a lot of the OE features while upgrading everything around them. It started with blue wheels and decals that matched the blue Ford dash and seats and included a full-wrap matte PPF to not only protect the SUV but also give the white Bronco a slick, matted look.

They finished it off with front-end lighting including the nameplate and headlights/fog lights.

Keystone Styling

The fourth builder hails from Pennsylvania and has been in the restyling business most of his life—Kenny Pillings and his team from Keystone Styling. They have basically been building SEMA PRO Cup-type vehicles for their dealers for years, but this was the first time being featured at the SEMA Show.

Called the “Adrenaline” package, the 2024 Ford F-150 features a 3.5-inch ReadyLIFT with 20-inch Fuel Off-Road wheels and 35-inch Nitto tires. It was a blackout package with a touch of red in the emblems, the caliper covers and the seatbelts, highlighted by a Leather Craft interior featuring a special baseball stitch and embroidery.

We can see why these packages fly off the shelf for Pillings and his team, and they should be easy to duplicate for restylers around the country to increase their truck package sales.

Auto Trim Restyling St. Louis

The fifth builder is a past PCC challenger that came looking for redemption. The well-known “ambassador of the aftermarket,” Kevin McGowan and his team from Auto Trim Restyling in St. Louis entered a Toyota Land Cruiser package that won the Fan Favorite award.

A partnership with Westcott Designs for the lift kit, roof rack, MOLLE panels and rear ladder made the build really stand out, as did the retro graphics that were subtly tied into the center caps on the Method Race Wheels.

Rigid lights finished off the overlanding theme, making it a sure favorite of dealers everywhere.

Classic Soft Trim

Pittsburgh is the home of the sixth and final builder. Ray Bednar and his team at Classic Soft Trim won it all with their Toyota RAV4 “Northern Lights Edition.”

Starting with badging on the doors, leather and even the license plates, the package calls to true adventurers. The shop partnered with Ironman to add the lift, bumper guard, roof rack, lights and tent.

Next came wheels and tires along and important details such as a roof wrap, molding wrap, handle and mirror covers, window film and an Alea custom leather kit that matched the color accents. A deserving winner worthy of the $2,000 grand prize.