Minnesota Team Places First In National Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition

BURNSVILLE, Minn.--In a showdown of the nation’s top high school automotive technology students, the two-person team from Faribault High School in Faribault, Minn., emerged as the “best of the best” at the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills National Finals. The competition gives auto tech students the opportunity to showcase their automotive problem-solving capabilities by resolving “real world” repair challenges in a timed, head-to-head match-up of top teams representing all 50 states.

Aspiring auto technicians, Justin Dwyer and Matthew Ludwig, recorded the best score while crossing the finish line in 42 minutes and 51 seconds. The students recorded a “perfect car” as they correctly diagnosed and repaired all of the bugs. The repairs included repairing the air conditioning blower, power windows and mirrors and interior and exterior lights as well as properly diagnosing and repairing problems to the starter motor and air flow sensor.

More than 9,700 high school juniors and seniors competed in this year’s competition with a record-high $10.7 million in scholarships offered. Following an online exam, the highest-scorers advanced to their states’ hands-on competition, with the top teams from each state competing today in Dearborn, Mich., at the National Finals. The 50, two-student teams also completed a 100-question written exam on Monday of which the results were combined with today’s hands-on competition.

In addition to several scholarships, the winning duo also won the opportunity to work under the hood with the Roush Fenway Racing No. 17 DEWALT Ford Fusion team at its Concord, N.C., shop leading up to the August 2 Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway, where they will serve as honorary pit crew members.

Additionally, the high schools of the top 15 teams in the competition will receive either a Ford Edge, Taurus or Fusion for training purposes in their automotive technology departments.

“Each year, vehicles become more technologically advanced, which increases the safety and comfort of motorists as well as the need for a skilled, technically-savvy workforce to service them,” said Marshall L. Doney, AAA Automotive, vice president. “The students competing in the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills are the future of the automotive industry. Part of AAA’s commitment to provide motorists with solutions for all their automotive needs includes ensuring they have reliable, quality auto repair options both now and in the future.”

The top 10 teams in the 2009 Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills National Finals were:

1. Minnesota - (Justin Dwyer, Matthew Ludwig) Faribault High School, Faribault, instructed by Mark Lessman
2. Colorado - Doherty High School, Colorado Springs
3. Alabama - Albert P Brewer High School, Somerville
4. Texas - Birdville Career Center, Halton City
5. California - San Luis Obispo High School, San Luis Obispo
6. New York - Wayne Tech & Career Center, Williamson
7. Kansas - Kaw Area Tech School, Topeka
8. Indiana - Pike Central High School, Petersburg
9. Arkansas - Jacksonville High School, Jacksonville
10. Iowa - West Delaware High School, Manchester