Nine SEMA Young Guns entrants named for Battle of the Builders 2019—and YOU can help name the 10th

SEMA this week revealed the names of nine emerging custom car builders selected to showcase their creations and compete in the Young Guns category of the 2019 Battle of the Builders competition, set for next month at the SEMA show in Las Vegas (November 5–8). A SEMA-organized public vote, open until October 4, will allow fans from across the U.S. to select a 10^th SEMA Young Guns contestant.

Officials from SEMA, a trade association representing the aftermarket automotive manufacturing industry, selected the contestants during a nationwide tour in search of exceptionally talented young vehicle builders. The Young Guns category in SEMA’s annual Battle of the Builders competition is limited to builders age 27 and under.

SEMA chose the first nine contestants with the help of previous Battle of the Builders contestants who served as judges, selecting the following standout talents at nine partnering automotive events across the U.S.:

• Keenen LaCour, TX2K in Houston, TX
• Steven Nadaskai, Formula Drift in Long Beach, CA
• Thomas Nguyen, Formula Drift in Atlanta, GA
• Austin Haynes, Street Machine Nationals in Du Quoin, IL
• Matteo Medoro, Formula Drift in Seattle, WA
• Shane Durrence, Street Machine Nationals in St. Paul, MN
• Curtis Larsen, Tuner Evolution in Philadelphia, PA
• Zack Zadoo, Goodguys in Pleasanton, CA
• Cody Nebeker, THE SHOW in West Valley City, UT

SEMA opened voting on September 14 to allow fans to select the 10^th and final contestant from a field of 21 runners-up from the nine events. Voting closes on October 4.

“The talent and craftsmanship that we saw during this year’s SEMA Young Guns Regional Program surpassed every one of our expectations,” said Ira Gabriel, SEMA Vice President of Marketing, Communications and PR. “Our industry partners and leaders did an amazing job selecting the winners, and it’s going to be even more challenging to fill the final spot.”           

According to SEMA, the purpose of maintaining the Young Guns category in the annual Battle of the Builders competition is to support up-and-coming talents in the custom car building field who otherwise might not have the opportunity to showcase their abilities at the annual SEMA Show.