The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and RACER Network will take automotive enthusiasts behind the scenes of four extraordinary vehicle builds in “SEMA Battle of the Builders” Presented by Mothers, a new four-part docuseries premiering Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on RACER Network.

Each approximately 25-minute episode follows one of the four class champions from the 2025 SEMA Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers, revealing the ideas, challenges, and craftsmanship that transformed four distinctive vehicles into award-winning builds. The series gives viewers a closer look at the builders, their creative processes and the countless decisions that shaped their vehicles before they competed on the industry’s biggest stage.

The featured builders and vehicles are:

Thomas Dickerson, winner of the BFGoodrich Young Guns category, and his 1967 Chevrolet C10
Tim Franklin and Pete Jackson, winners of the Sport Compact/Import Performance/Luxury/Exotics category, and their 1960 Porsche Custom 356
Ron Jones, winner of the 4WD/Off-Road category, and his 1973 Volkswagen Thing
Troy Trepanier, winner of the Hot Rod/Hot Rod Truck category and the overall Best of Show for the 2025 competition, and his 1936 Ford-inspired Roadster

“The remarkable vehicles recognized through SEMA Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers are only part of the story. The ingenuity, perseverance and craftsmanship behind them are equally compelling,” said SEMA Vice President of Marketing RJ de Vera. “This series takes enthusiasts inside the creative process and introduces them to the builders whose ideas and skills continue to move our industry forward. Working with RACER Network allows us to share those stories with an even broader audience and inspire the next generation of builders.”

“SEMA Battle of the Builders captures the passion and commitment required to create truly exceptional vehicles. Across diverse categories, these four builders demonstrate what is possible in car customization,” said CJ Olivares, RACER Group CEO. “This series gives viewers rare access to the vision, obsession and problem-solving it takes to become a champion. Partnering with SEMA to bring these stories to more audiences is an extension of our commitment to celebrating everyone who makes this community special, from the racetrack to the fabrication shop. Whether you turn wrenches or just love great cars, you'll want to watch."

Four Builds, Four Distinctive Stories

The series begins with Dickerson and his 1967 Chevrolet C10. The BFGoodrich Young Guns category winner executed an extensive custom build that included a fabricated engine bay and truck bed, flush-mounted glass, one-off headlights, a tailored chassis and a fully custom interior. The project reflects Dickerson’s commitment to precision and hands-on craftsmanship, with the builder personally carrying the vehicle from concept to completion.

The second episode follows Jones and the transformation of a 1973 Volkswagen Thing into a coach-built, Porsche-powered off-road vehicle. Constructed around a one-off chromoly long-travel tube chassis, the vehicle features hand-built exterior panels and more than 350 machined components. Its combination of performance engineering, design and functionality earned Jones the Off-Road category title.

Episode three tells the story of Franklin, Jackson and their 1960 Porsche Custom 356. Beginning with a Porsche 356B in severely deteriorated condition, the team reshaped the vehicle with contoured bodywork, symmetrical design details, a one-piece aluminum rear deck and an upgraded engine. The result preserved the character of the original Porsche while introducing a fresh design and modern functionality.

The final episode features Trepanier and Rad Rides by Troy’s “Fenderless,” a completely scratch-built roadster inspired by a 1936 Ford. The team produced the body, chassis, suspension, machined components, paint and interior in-house, redesigning the vehicle’s proportions to create a distinctive open-wheel profile. The roadster won the Hot Rod/Hot Rod Truck category before being selected as the overall winner of the 2025 SEMA Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers. The victory marked Trepanier’s second overall competition title following his first Best of Show win in 2017.

The docuseries illustrates how Battle of the Builders can elevate builders and connect them with opportunities across the industry. “Winning skyrocketed my exposure and presence in the hot rod industry,” said Josh Michels, 2022 SEMA Battle of the Builders Young Guns winner and 2025 judge. “I made new connections and gained sponsors.”

About SEMA Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers

SEMA Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers is the aftermarket industry’s premier vehicle-building competition, providing SEMA Show builders with an international platform to showcase their craftsmanship, creativity and technical expertise. The competition celebrated its 12th year at the 2025 SEMA Show.

Builders compete in one of four classes: Hot Rod/Hot Rod Truck; Sport Compact/Import Performance/Luxury/Exotic; 4WD/Off-Road; and BFGoodrich Young Guns, which recognizes builders age 29 and younger. A panel of industry judges narrows the field to the Top 40 and then the Top 12. Once the Top 12 are determined, the finalists judge one another’s vehicles to determine each class champion and the overall best of show winner.

The 2025 competition concluded during the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, where Troy Trepanier and his 1936 Ford-inspired Roadster were named the overall winners. Tim Franklin, Ron Jones and Thomas Dickerson round out the competition’s four class champions.

How to Watch

Episode 1 of “SEMA Battle of the Builders” Presented by Mothers will premiere Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on RACER Network, with new episodes premiering the subsequent Wednesday nights at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. The entire series will have encore marathon-style broadcasts on Sunday, Nov. 1, starting at 11:30 p.m. ET; Sunday, Nov. 15, at 1 p.m. ET; and Sunday, Nov. 22. at 4 p.m. ET.

Viewers can watch “SEMA Battle of the Builders” Presented by Mothers on RACER Network, via DirecTV, Charter Spectrum, Optimum and selected other cable providers, as well as via the RACER+ streaming app, which is available in the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, ROKU, Amazon Prime and select other connected devices.

The 2026 SEMA Show and the next Battle of the Builders competition will take place Nov. 3-6 in Las Vegas as part of the broader “SEMA Week” experience, which includes public access on Friday and the high-energy SEMA Fest.

To learn more or register, visit www.semashow.com.

ABOUT SEMA & THE SEMA SHOW

The SEMA Show is a trade show produced by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), a nonprofit trade association founded in 1963. Since the first SEMA Show debuted in 1967, the annual event has served as the leading venue bringing together manufacturers and buyers within the automotive specialty equipment industry. Products featured at the SEMA Show include those that enhance the styling, functionality, comfort, convenience and safety of cars, trucks, side-by-sides, and two-wheel vehicles. Additional details are available at www.semashow.com or www.sema.org.

ABOUT RACER

RACER is the largest North American motorsports and car culture media platform and includes RACER Network (TV), RACER.com (web), RACER+ (APP) and RACER Studio (branded content).

Tagged: RACER Network

Battle of the Builders Docuseries Takes Viewers Behind the Scenes of Award-Winning Vehicle Builds