Nine teams from high schools and technical colleges will go head-to-head at AAPEX 2026 in Las Vegas, racing to rebuild V8 engines as the event draws attention to the national shortage of skilled auto technicians.
This November, Las Vegas will host a different kind of contest. Student auto techs from all over the country are set to compete in the second annual AAPEX Student Competition, held during the Automotive Aftermarket Product Expo (AAPEX) on November 4, 2026. The event puts young talent in the spotlight and brings the industry’s workforce shortage into sharp focus.
The U.S. automotive aftermarket is a $599.7 billion business, but it faces a projected shortfall of 1.2 million auto technicians over the next five years. That gap is driving the urgency behind this year’s contest. The field has grown fast: nine teams from seven high schools and technical colleges will compete, tripling the number from the first event in 2025.
For AAPEX 2026, students must be at least 16 years old to participate if registered by an instructor, while those 18 and older can register independently.
Engines, teams, and the Las Vegas stage
The rules are simple but tough. Teams race to strip down and rebuild a small block V8 engine in front of a live crowd. The contest runs in two heats: four teams in one group, five in the other. The four fastest move on to the final round. This year’s top prize is now worth over $5,000—more than double last year’s $2,000. EIN Presswire reported that the 2025 winners took home $1,000 in gift cards and $1,000 in professional tool sets.
One team drawing attention is an all-female duo from North Kansas City Schools, coached by Jack Stow, who led last year’s champions. Other teams include students from Arapahoe Community College in Colorado and Heritage High School in Palm Bay, Florida. Instructor Michael A. Broud brings two students with hands-on experience in dirt bike building and high-performance tuning. The contest takes place near Joe’s Garage, a mainstay of the AAPEX show. Preliminary rounds start at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., with the final at 4 p.m. All show attendees can watch for free.
Inside the competition and industry backing
The AAPEX Student Competition launched in 2025 to help tackle the auto tech shortage and bring new energy to the show floor. Only three teams competed in the first year, with a Kansas high school taking the win. Since then, organizers like Bernard Tansey of Euro Clinic in Santa Clara, California, have worked to ramp up the event. They stress that grit and initiative are key for anyone hoping to compete—traits that employers are desperate to find. Instructors can now register groups of up to 15 students, making AAPEX both a career launchpad and a hands-on learning experience, as Las Vegas Monorail has pointed out.
Industry sponsors and volunteers keep the contest running. Duralast Parts, owned by AutoZone, supplies the engines. Dorman Products provides the engine stands. Milwaukee Tool, Carlyle Tools, Snap-on Incorporated, SP Tools USA, Lisle Corporation, and SureWerx all chip in with prizes and tools. The Auto Care Association Tool & Equipment Community handles logistics, prizes, and gift bags for the students.
A recent report by the Alliance for America’s Skilled Trades estimates that U.S. employers will need about 1.7 million new workers annually through 2035, with mechanics and auto service technicians among the most in-demand roles. The same study highlights that rapidly evolving automotive technology and the need for ongoing training are major barriers to filling these jobs.
Las Vegas as a national platform
AAPEX is more than just a trade show. It draws thousands of exhibitors and tens of thousands of visitors to Las Vegas every year, making it a global meeting point for the automotive aftermarket. The student competition puts young techs in front of industry leaders and potential employers, right in the heart of a $2.65 trillion global sector.
Last year, the contest packed in a crowd several rows deep. Organizers have responded by adding stadium seating and big screens for 2026. The event’s rapid growth matches the rising pressure around skilled labor shortages—a problem that’s also showing up in other parts of the Las Vegas economy, as reported earlier by Vegas Report.
What it means for Las Vegas and the industry
Las Vegas has always been a proving ground for new talent and big ideas. The AAPEX Student Competition now joins that tradition. By putting the next wave of auto techs in the spotlight, the event tackles a real workforce crunch and cements the city’s place as a center for industry-shaping events. With more teams, bigger prizes, and strong sponsor support, the automotive aftermarket is betting on its future—and Las Vegas is where those bets are placed.
