Builders
Every November, the SEMA Show turns Las Vegas into the beating heart of the custom car world—but one showdown always steals the spotlight: the Battle of the Builders 2025. It’s the aftermarket industry’s ultimate test of skill, creativity, and innovation—where the best in the business fight for glory and the title of the world’s top custom builder.
We knew this one was special the moment we first spotted it at the 2024 Grand National Roadster Show. Now it’s official—the 2025 SEMA Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers Polish has crowned Troy Trepanier of Rad Rides by Troy as the best overall builder of the year with his jaw-dropping Fenderless ’36 Ford Roadster.
From the first time you see this beautiful ’57 Ford Ranch Wagon, you know it’s special, both in its concept and its execution. You might also know this is the latest creation from one of the Midwest’s elite rod builders, Troy Trepanier, a guy who has been doing it his own way since he first started shaping specialized vehicles back in the late 1980s. Since that time, Troy and his crew have been stopping people in their tracks with fresh, leading-edge designs, and their latest innovation certainly carries that tradition into a new era. After taking possession of another Trepanier creation, the ’54 Plymouth known as the Sniper, George Poteet decided he wanted Rad Rods By Troy to rework another car that he had been thinking about for some time. As with all such projects, it began simply enough, but soon a well-worn Ford station wagon was well on its way to an entirely new life.
Automobiles and customizing developed simultaneously. There have always been individuals who had a need, a persistent yearning, to personalize their belongings. Some people add their initials to clothing or suitcases, some homeowners paint and landscape their dwellings differently than their neighbors, and some auto enthusiasts customize their automobiles to stand apart from the rest. This quest to be different is what makes the world so unique and why the car manufacturers offered options to suit the whims of each individual buyer.
The custom car world has lost one of its true visionaries. Steve Frisbie, founder of Steve’s Auto Restorations in Portland, Oregon, passed away on Saturday, October 18, 2025, surrounded by loved ones in his home. His departure leaves a profound void in the restoration and hot-rod community, yet the imprint of his workmanship and spirit remains indelible.
When it comes to America’s sports car, the Chevrolet Corvette has always been a blank canvas for creativity, speed, and style. From factory-pure survivors to wild, one-off customs, the Triple Crown of Rodding 2025 proved once again that no other nameplate captures the imagination of builders and fans quite like the Corvette.
After years away, NOPI Motorsports made a triumphant return with the NOPI Nationals 2025, officially the NOPI Nationals Motorsports Supershow. Fans from across the country flocked to the event, experiencing two full days of custom car showcases, high-octane competitions, and festival-style entertainment that reminded everyone why NOPI is a cornerstone of car culture.
In its third year, the Triple Crown of Rodding keeps getting smoother, stronger, and more refined—like a finely aged bourbon, each year’s competition distills the craft down to its boldest, most balanced builds. The 2025 event brought a level of intensity and talent that proved just how far the hobby has come. Builders came prepared, and the competition was fierce, with every entry pushing boundaries in creativity, engineering, and execution. This wasn’t just a show—it was a proving ground where only the most exceptional rides could shine.
The Triple Crown of Rodding 2025 wasn’t just the biggest hot rod event in the nation — on Saturday, September 6, it became a rally of American pride at the Nashville Superspeedway. Actor, advocate, and true patriot Gary Sinise lit up the night with his Lt. Dan Band, delivering a high-octane rock ’n’ roll concert that saluted our service members, veterans, and first responders.
