Nine student teams from seven high schools and technical colleges will compete in the second annual AAPEX Student Competition on Nov. 4 at AAPEX 2026 in Las Vegas, up from three teams at last year’s first event.

Teams will race to fully disassemble and reassemble a small-block V8 engine in front of a live audience. The competition runs in two preliminary rounds, one with four teams and one with five, and the four fastest teams advance to a final round. Preliminary rounds start at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and the final begins at 4 p.m. Las Vegas time. The event takes place near Joe’s Garage at the show and is free to attend.

“After attending last year's event and sharing my experiences with the class, my students were instantly hooked,” said Bob Parmley, an automotive instructor at Arapahoe Community College in Colorado. “While classroom instruction and lab work build a vital foundation, nothing compares to stepping into the heart of the global automotive industry.”

Bigger prizes and more seating

At the first competition, held at AAPEX 2025, a Kansas high school team beat two community college teams and took home $2,000 in prizes, split between gift cards and professional-grade starter tool sets. This year, the first-place prize is valued at more than $5,000. Organizers said last year’s event drew a crowd hundreds deep, so they are adding stadium-style seating and large-screen TVs for spectators.

Focus on the technician shortage

AAPEX said the competition is part of a multi-year plan to improve the show and draw attention to the shortage of automotive technicians. Citing the TechForce Foundation, organizers said the U.S. produced fewer than half of the 241,842 auto technicians it needed last year, and the foundation projects a shortfall of 1.2 million technicians over the next five years.

“This is a national stage for these students as AAPEX is a ‘homecoming’ of sorts for the $599.7 billion U.S. automotive aftermarket,” said Bernard Tansey, owner of Euro Clinic, an independent repair shop in Santa Clara, California. “It takes initiative for students to sign up for this and work ethic to perform, which are characteristics many employers find desirable.”

Tansey organizes the competition and also serves as a judge and emcee.

Teams getting ready

Jack Stow, an automotive instructor with North Kansas City Schools who coached last year’s winning team, is bringing an all-female team this year. Michael A. Broud, an automotive maintenance and light repair teacher at Heritage High School in Palm Bay, Florida, will coach a pair of students.

“These two are hungry,” Broud said. “When I asked if they would like to compete, their only question was, ‘When do we start?!’”

Duralast Parts, an AutoZone private label brand, is supplying the engines, and Dorman Products is supplying the engine stands. Milwaukee Tool and Carlyle Tools are sponsoring the prizes, and Snap-on, Carlyle Tools, SP Tools USA, Lisle Corporation and SureWerx are supplying tools. Volunteer members of the Auto Care Association Tool & Equipment Community coordinated tools, prizes and gift bags.

AAPEX is co-produced by MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers and the Auto Care Association.

Source: AAPEX press release

The winning high school team from the 2025 AAPEX student competition holding trophies with their coach, judges and event sponsor — The winning team at the 2025 AAPEX student competition with their coach, judges and event sponsor. Image: AAPEX.

Wide view of the crowd gathered around the 2025 AAPEX student competition area — Three teams drew a crowd at the first AAPEX student competition in 2025. Image: AAPEX.

Tagged: Technician shortage

Nine Student Teams to Race Engine Rebuilds at AAPEX 2026