First, all builders with a vehicle displaying at the 2020 SEMA Show may enter the competition at www.semabotb.com before the deadline on October 9, 2020. Photos can be uploaded directly onto the online applications, which judges will use to select the finalists.
The second way builders may participate in the 2020 SEMA Battle of the Builder’s competition is through the Young Guns program. Preselected regional virtual corrals will award a limited number of BOTB entries to builders age 27 or younger (as of Nov. 6, 2020). The entries will then be included in the SEMA BOTB and compete among all other participants in the competition. For more information on the Young Guns regional venues, please visit www.semayoungguns.com.
The BOTB team will be in contact with you to set-up additional interviews and explain the next steps. You may also contact Mike Robledo at marketing@semaignited.com
Builders under the age of 27 (by November 6, 2020) may be able to compete in a SEMA Young Guns Virtual Regional corral. For more information, please visit www.semayoungguns.com.
Supporting and inspiring young builders is crucial to the future of the automotive specialty equipment market. The Young Guns category is designed to encourage young builders to pursue their passions and shines the light on the up-and-coming builders.
The Young Guns is a designation within the overall BOTB competition to recognize builders who are under the age of 27 (as of Nov. 6, 2020). Those who have selected the Young Guns category on the online application, as well as young builders who were awarded a Young Guns prize package from a virtual regional corral are eligible to participate. All competitors in the Young Guns category will be competing against the overall field of builders, regardless of how they entered the competition.
With more than 300 participants, industry experts will review all qualifying applications, including vehicle descriptions and photos. Judges will then select the Top 40 finalists in the competition. (Ten builds will represent the hot rod category, 10 will represent the trucks/off-road category, 10 will represent the import/sport compact category and another 10 will be from Young Guns.) After the Top 40 finalists are announced, the judges then narrow the finalists down to the Top 12, regardless of the category. The Top 12 finalists then become the judges and select from amongst themselves who is ultimately named the Top Builder of the SEMA BOTB.
Yes. Staff will work in the qualifying rounds and judges will be on a video conferencing platform and will spend time interviewing the builders.
Winners will be announced on November 6th through Social Media.
Each vehicle at the SEMA Show is a unique, one-of-a-kind creation. Personal tastes may vary and opinions will differ. Industry experts with years of experience serve as judges and narrow the entries down to finalists. However, it is the Top 12 finalists themselves who will be judging, voting and selecting the ultimate winner.
As builders, the finalists know and understand the challenges and complexity involved with a vehicle build. They are able to assess and determine the creativity, craftsmanship and skill that went into each vehicle, before selecting the winner.
SEMA Ignited, the official after party of the SEMA Show that is open to consumers, will not be taking place in 2020 as planned. Full refunds will be issued to those who have purchased tickets. We appreciate the support and interest we have received from the industry and enthusiast community and look forward to seeing everyone in 2021.
A vehicle will be in one category. If a builder’s vehicle is identified as one that is in consideration of either the Hot Rod, Tuner, or Truck categories, it will be listed in those categories as top 10 of that category. Otherwise, if the vehicle builder is a Young Gun (age 27 or younger on November 6, 2020) and does not earn a spot in the top ten of the Hot Rod, Tuner, or Truck category, the vehicle may still be considered for the Young Guns category. A vehicle can only be in one category.
