By SEMA Editors
 Daniel Dent and his ’72 Chevy C-10 pickup. Photo credit: Street Machine Nationals |
 Dustin Anthony and his Monivetti Era. Photo credit: Street Machine Nationals |
The SEMA Battle of the Builders Young Guns competition returns again this year to the Street Machine Nationals, with qualifying rounds in both Du Quoin, Illinois (June 21–23), and St. Paul, Minnesota (July 19–21). The event is open to anyone age 27 or younger (as of November 8) who builds their vehicle primarily on their own. Participants can submit an application for an opportunity to be chosen by SEMA for one of the qualifying rounds at a Street Machine Nationals event.
A total of 10 vehicles will be selected to compete at each of the two Street Machine Nationals events. SEMA will contact those chosen to compete at a Street Machine Nationals event.
A winner will be named at each of the Street Machine Nationals events and will receive an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas (November 5-8), transportation of the winner’s vehicle, a designated feature spot at the SEMA Show and entry into the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.
This year will mark the third for SEMA Young Guns, which has been featured at the Street Machine Nationals events in Du Quoin and St. Paul in each of those years.
Last year, Daniel Dent of Bonnie, Illinois, won the Young Guns competition at the Du Quoin event with a ’72 Chevy C-10 pickup. The then-20-year-old completed a stunning paint job that took three tries, having to sand the truck all the way back down to its base each time. He also installed a new transmission, which he removed from an RV and modified to fit the C-10, and installed a tuned port injection engine, which was pulled from another truck.
Dustin Anthony of Richfield, Minnesota, won the Young Guns competition at last year’s Street Machine Summer Nationals in St. Paul with a Monivetti Era that began its existence as a ’06 Lotus Elise. The then-27-year-old put a total of 4,200 hours into the car over a three-year period, including spending 2,100 hours molding the body by hand. The only items left from the original car were the glass, doors, side mirrors and a few interior pieces.
Professional Street Machine Nationals judges and celebrity judges will choose one Young Guns participant as the winner from the Du Quoin Street Machine Nationals, June 21–23, and one winner at the St. Paul Street Machine Nationals, July 19–21.
For more information on the SEMA Battle of the Builders Young Guns Competition and to submit an application for an opportunity to be chosen to compete at a Street Machine Nationals event, visit www.semayoungguns.com.
For more information on the Street Machine Nationals, visit www.streetmachinenationals.net and follow the Street Machine Nationals on Facebook and Instagram @StreetMachineNationals.