AAPEX student engine competition returns with nine teams in Las Vegas

AAPEX will bring back its student engine teardown-and-rebuild contest on Nov. 4 in Las Vegas, with nine teams from seven high schools and technical colleges competing. The event highlights efforts to draw more young people into auto repair jobs as the industry faces a major technician shortage.

Why it matters: - The competition is designed to showcase auto tech training in front of employers, instructors and show attendees. - The event also spotlights the shortage of skilled auto technicians in the U.S., where demand continues to outpace supply. - The winning team will take home more than $5,000 in prizes, raising the stakes from last year.

What happened: - AAPEX is bringing back its student competition for the second year at AAPEX 2026 in Las Vegas. - Nine teams from seven high schools and technical colleges will compete. - An all-female team is among the entrants. - Students will fully disassemble and reassemble a small block V8 engine in a timed event. - The competition is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, near Joe’s Garage at the Las Vegas show. - Preliminary rounds begin at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Las Vegas time. - The final round starts at 4 p.m. with the four fastest teams. - Attendance is free.

The details: - The format includes two preliminary rounds, with four teams in one group and five teams in the other. - The four fastest teams advance to the final round for prizes and bragging rights. - Stadium-style seating and large-screen TVs have been added to make the event easier to watch. - The first competition at AAPEX 2025 featured three teams, including two community-college teams and one Kansas high school team that won. - Last year’s winners received $2,000 in prizes, including $1,000 in gift cards and $1,000 in professional-grade starter tool sets. - This year’s first-place prize package is valued at more than $5,000. - The competition is part of a multi-year effort to improve the show and draw attention to the auto tech labor gap. - TechForce Foundation says the U.S. produced less than half of the 241,842 auto technicians it needed last year and projects a shortage of 1.2 million auto techs over the next five years. - Bernard Tansey, owner of Euro Clinic in Santa Clara, Calif., organized the competition and will serve as a judge and emcee. - Tansey has also written about the labor shortage, including an op-ed later republished on the AAPEX blog.

Between the lines: - The competition gives students a public test of speed, skill and composure under pressure. - Organizers are trying to turn a trade-show feature into a talent pipeline for an industry that needs more entry-level technicians. - The growing number of teams suggests stronger interest from schools after the event’s debut last year. - AAPEX is also using the contest to make the show more interactive for attendees.

What's next: - Students will continue preparing ahead of the Nov. 4 competition. - AAPEX 2026 registration is open for automotive aftermarket professionals. - Students and members of the media can attend with complimentary passes. - Show passes cost $100. - The event remains trade-only and is closed to the general public.

The bottom line: - AAPEX is turning a student engine teardown into a high-visibility recruiting tool for an industry short on technicians.