The 2022 U.S. Auto Tech National Championship is coming to you on CBS Sports Network! Tune in on Friday, December 23, 2022, at 8pm ET.
On November 1, 2022, 16 pro finalists and 16 student finalists competed in Tampa, Florida for the title of the U.S. Auto Tech National Championship Winner. Jonathan Pope took home Third Place for Professionals, earning him bragging rights and $10,000!
According to their website, The U.S. Auto Tech National Championship was created to showcase the incredible skills of auto technician professionals and students across the country.
We are very thankful to have him on our staff and want to congratulate him for his dedication to the industry!
Elijah Schlabach, Owner of Fox River Automtoive
Jonathan Pope (aka JP) is one of the Master Certified Auto Technicians and leads the mechanic team at Fox River Automotive in Seney, MI.Fox River Automotive is the oldest Auto Value store in the Upper Peninsula and has been an Auto Value Certified Service Center since 1997.
Jon graduated from Bay De Noc Community College in 2008 and completed his work-study at Fox River Automotive and has been employed there ever since. It was there he met his bride, Amber, who was a store clerk, and today they together have a wonderful family. JP also serves his communities on two local volunteer fire departments.
WHAT WAS AT STAKE:
The top technicians took home major bragging rights, being the best techs in the nation and winning over $140,000 in cash and prizes.
PROFESSIONALS
1st Place: $40,000 | 2nd Place: $20,000 | 3rd Place: $10,000
STUDENTS
1st Place: $40,000 | 2nd Place: $20,000 | 3rd Place: $10,000
How It Works:
1. PARTICIPATE IN A QUALIFYING EVENT
The U.S. Auto Tech qualifying tour held 15 in-person qualifying events across the United States to find the best 15 professional and student auto technicians to advance to the Round of 32. Check out what stops they made!
If a participant couldn’t make it to an event, they had the chance to compete in a digital Driven to Win Challenge, a digital quiz that was held in July and August. The 10 students and professionals with the highest scores were invited to participate in the Driven to Win Challenge finals, the Brake Line Challenge presented by Wagner. The Brake Line Challenge is an at-home brake line repair challenge where one student and one professional were selected to advance to the Round of 32. To learn more about the challenge, click here.
2. ADVANCE TO ROUND OF 32
The top professional and top student from every in-person qualifier and the Driven to Win digital challenge winners automatically qualified for the Round of 32. The Round of 32 is a timed quiz on total vehicle knowledge.
If a participant didn’t automatically qualify at an in-person or digital challenge – they still had a chance to make it to the Round of 32. The next fastest 16 professional and 16 student times were selected as wildcards to participate in the Round of 32.
3. FINALS IN TAMPA
The 16 professionals and 16 students with the highest scores from the Round of 32 digital quiz went head-to-head in Tampa, FL, competing for their share of $140,000 in cash and prizes.
Fox River Automotive is located at 10876N Fox River Rd. Seney, MI 49883.
