2026 SEMA Battle Of The Builders Winners Revealed, And One Chevy Packs 1,300 HP
At the 2026 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, winning a custom car competition takes a bunch more than fresh paint and an engine that frightens the dyno operator. The Battle of the Builders has crowned four automotive class champions, including a 1,300 hp Chevrolet Chevelle. For the first time, there’s a motorcycle champion, too.
What Makes SEMA’s Battle Of The Builders So Competitive
Now in its 13th year, SEMA Battle of the Builders puts the aftermarket industry’s finest creations under a microscope. Judges narrow the field to 12 automotive finalists, who then evaluate each other’s work and choose the four class winners and overall champion. It’s peer review, only with way more horsepower.
The four classes cover hot rods, sport compacts and imports, off-road vehicles, and BFGoodrich Young Guns, which recognizes builders ages 29 and younger. Everything from old-school American muscle to a meticulously reworked Volkswagen can make the cut.
Among this year’s Top 12 were Charles Crews’ 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda, Andy Leach’s 1933 Pontiac Vicky, Jordan Henke’s 1974 Ford Capri, and Jeremy Wessels’ 1969 Ford Bronco.
A 1,300 HP Chevy Chevelle Headlines Four Class Champions
Eddie Pettus won Hot Rod/Hot Rod Truck with a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle packing a twin-turbo LS3 V8 rated at 1,300 hp. Its wedge-sectioned body, reworked roof, Roadster Shop chassis, and custom interior suggest that leaving anything factory-standard would’ve been considered a personal insult.
Mark Giambalvo claimed the Off-Road title with a 1974 Chevrolet K10 pickup. Under the classic Chevy truck’s green bodywork sit a modern LT4 crate engine and Roadster Shop RS4 chassis, while custom trim and leather upholstery keep the nostalgic truck theme intact.
More Than A Quick Oil Change
The Sport Compact/Import Performance trophy went to Buddy Hale’s 1955 Volkswagen Ghia. With more than 20,000 labor hours, extensive handmade components, and a race-inspired powertrain, this vintage VW makes the average weekend restoration look like a quick oil change.
In BFGoodrich Young Guns, Jesse Rieger’s 1969 Ford Mustang took the prize. Its Ford Performance Aluminator engine, custom CAD-designed chassis, independent suspension, and widebody treatment turn the familiar American pony car into something way more ambitious.
A Harley-Davidson Knucklehead Makes SEMA History
The inaugural Bike Builder Shootout crowned Steven Iacona and his 1945 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead. Its hand-formed tanks, extensively modified frame, machined controls, and polished metalwork prove that winning doesn’t require four wheels or a four-digit horsepower figure.
Robert Zeolla finished second with a 1940 Indian In-Line Four chopper featuring an enormous extended front end, while James Crosby placed third with a custom 1952 Harley-Davidson Panhead assembled using parts spanning several decades. The motorcycle competition is judged separately from the automotive Battle of the Builders.
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