(VIDEO) The first National Equipment League championship competition begins

The newly founded National Equipment League is broadcasting its first events in partnership with HD Hyundai Construction Equipment North America. The National Equipment League – founded as a new entertainment platform to showcase the skills, character, and passion of the construction industry through competition – will crown its first-ever champion after four events broadcast over the next month. The winner will be crowned the first-ever National Equipment League Champion and take home the championship belt and additional prizes from Hyundai. 

Competitors in the first competition include Mike Simon (AKA Dirt Perfect), Andrew Camarata, Bryan Furnace, Dave Buchakian, and Geoff Dodge. Mr. Digg Ryan Williams also joined the fun as a member of the broadcast team. All events were filmed at the HD Hyundai Customer Product Center in Carnesville, Georgia, and will continue to be shared from Hyundai social platforms such as YouTube and Facebook. 

"We had an incredible time putting this together with some of the biggest construction industry names in social media and YouTube," says Susan Philpott, marketing manager at HD Hyundai Construction Equipment. "The sense of competition and camaraderie is clear as each competitor gives it their all throughout the events – there's lead changes, there's competitive drama, and it all serves to highlight the passion and skills of the construction industry." 

"I see the National Equipment League existing somewhere at the crossroads of mixed martial arts and dirt track racing," says Bill Elverman, commissioner of the National Equipment League. "It's being built to give future generations an entertaining and dynamic view into an industry that we're all passionate about. We hope operators from all around North America will take note and want to test their skills in a competition that's fun to watch but also serves as a showcase for our industry. And we hope it provides a platform for skilled trades men and women to serve as heroes to future generations."

Future event dates are to be determined, but the National Equipment League championship will be up for grabs throughout the year as both existing and new challengers take on the eventual champion. 

"This is definitely an ongoing, legacy championship," says Elverman. "We want this to be like professional mixed martial arts where operators are calling each other out and continually going head-to-head with the best. If our first championship is any indication, there is excitement for that level of entertainment and competition." 

The first series of National Equipment League events will be broadcast from the Hyundai YouTube and Facebook channels. Additional promotional considerations were made possible by Blue Diamond Attachments.