‘Young Guns’ Selected for SEMA Battle of the Builders

Three aspiring vehicle builders have been selected as the winners of the Young Guns regional competitions and now have the opportunity to participate in the SEMA Battle of the Builders, a competition open only to builders with vehicles at the SEMA Show, event organizers announced.

The 2021 Young Guns regional winners are:

  • Thomas Dickerson, of Athens, Ga. (Eastern Region)–1967 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350
  • Dayton Jacobsen, of Burnsville, Minn. (Midwest Region)–2000 Chevrolet S10
  • Cole Marten, of Penticton, B.C. (Pacific Region)–1991 Skyline R32 GTR

As part of an initiative to support and encourage young builders to engage with the automotive industry, three virtual regional qualifier events were held for builders under the age of 27, SEMA Show officials said. Builders from across North America were vying for a trip for two to the November trade-only show in Las Vegas, along with transportation for the vehicle and entry into the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

First introduced into the Battle of the Builders competition in 2017, the Young Guns category aims to provide exposure to rising young builders who were otherwise unable to qualify for the competition due to certain requirements, the organization said.

By A.J. Hecht

A.J. Hecht is the managing editor of THE SHOP and host of the In Gear with THE SHOP podcast. Have an idea, a tip, or a question you’d like to see answered? Contact A.J. at ahecht@cahabamedia.com.