A big competition kicks off in North Texas on Friday! That's when the 5th Annual NTXAD Auto Tech Competition gets underway at the Texas Motor Speedway. The two-day event, hosted by the North Texas Automobile Dealers, is the state’s largest auto tech competition, that for many, could be the pathway to a lucrative six-figure job in a matter of a few years. It brings together high school seniors from 40+ schools, each team paired with a mentoring dealership.
The competition gives auto-tech students a unique opportunity to face off against their peers and the clock as they vie for scholarships, prizes and highly sought-after jobs with local automobile dealerships. NXTAD says their skills fill a critical need, too, citing more than 76,000 job openings nationwide for auto technicians, thousands of those jobs right here in Texas.
“This competition arose out of the need to introduce Texans to a great career and to create a workforce for our North Texas auto dealerships, and it is working,” said NTXAD President Brent Franks. “We know it’s working not only because of the number of schools joining us every year – but more importantly, because of the number of students we see flourishing in auto tech careers as a direct result of the connections they’ve made at these competitions.”
Franks estimates students who’ve participated in the NTXAD Auto Tech Competitions and gone on to careers in the industry, have earned a combined $3.5 million in the past year alone.
“We’ve placed 78 students in full-time jobs over the years, at an average starting salary of $45 thousand dollars a year. Students today want and need to earn a living wage, and these students are graduating as highly qualified auto technicians who are meeting an important need."
The first, second and third-place winners receive thousands of dollars in tools from Snap-On for each team member to help them start their career (a huge perk as auto techs are required to purchase their own tools); scholarships provided by the Carroll Shelby Foundation & NTXAD members to NTXAD’s Fast Track Automotive Technician Training Program, which combines hands-on classroom instruction in conjunction with employment opportunities in a new car and truck dealership service center during a concentrated 5-week training course; and gift cards for the team instructors and dealer mentors.
Last year's first place winners are pictured above: BUINGER CTE ACADEMY & Sam Pack's Five Star Ford North Richland Hills. Sam Pack is a premiere DFW show sponsor.
“The competition is always fun, and it’s great to see the talent we’ve got here. Even more important than that is the connection we get to make between students and auto dealerships, said George Arrants, ASE Education Foundation. A few weeks before every competition, we pair up automotive technology teams with mentors from NTXAD new car & truck dealerships. The students get training that is specific to the manufacturer’s equipment for the dealership and learn firsthand from their mentors.”
During the competition, students also have the chance to attend a career fair where they can meet and interview with dealer representatives and instructors from area collegiate automotive technology programs.
Students will also have a chance to take a pace car ride around the oval at Texas Motor Speedway.
The competition award ceremony takes place Saturday, Dec. 7th from 4-5 pm. NHRA Drag Racing Champion Steve Johnson is the featured keynote speaker.
The Auto Tech Competition is supported through regional funding from new car & truck dealers in North Texas with support from Chevrolet, Ford, the Ford Foundation, Buick-GMC, BMW, Nissan-Infiniti, Subaru. Other mentoring support includes dealers of Audi, KIA, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota who have come together to support this high-octane industry event. The Carroll Shelby Foundation generously fund scholarships. Supporting sponsors include Ally, Bank of America, Cumulus Radio Dallas and Forvis Mazars.
To learn more about the career opportunities in automotive technology and the training/education programs available, visit www.ntxad.com.
Photo: NTXAD.