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Last year I had the chance to attend the inaugural U.S. Auto Tech National Championship (USATNC) as part of the IDEAL Elite Trades Championship Series, in Nashville, Tennessee. Techs from across the country who qualified gathered to compete for a $40,000 grand prize and the chance to be named the top Auto Technician in the USA.
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A specially built arena hosted the competitors as they faced round after round of challenges, everything from diagnosing and repairing an electric system to replacing universal joints on a driveshaft. With each round, the winners would move one step closer to the final contest. Being there was like attending a major sporting event, complete with grandstands, a fan zone, large screens, and a full film crew capturing the entire competition for television. But instead of athletes, the stars of this event were the men and women of the trades. Be sure to head over to watch my YouTube recap video from last year HERE.
Competitions like the USATNC are shifting the perception of what it means to be an auto technician, highlighting that the trades are more than just a great way to make a living, but a skillset that deserves to be celebrated with diverse opportunities in everything from motorsports to electric vehicles.
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The
USATNC is currently touring the US looking for automotive techs to compete in
both the pro and student classes of the event. Auto Techs who win a regional
qualifying competition will advance to the Round of 32 for their chance to
make it to the finals this October in Tampa, Florida. You can visit www.usatnc.com to
register and see when the qualifying tour will be in a city near you.
Also, be sure to check out the USATNC on Social Media for updates and more:
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