HOUSTON, Dec. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Quaker State®
is pleased to announce the top three winners from the "Best in
Class Challenge," a six-week automotive education program featuring
high school auto shops from across the
United States. As the winner of this year's 1st
Place Grand Prize, the Red Jackets from Jordan Vocational High
School in Columbus, Georgia were
awarded a $2,500 credit account at
AutoZone, a customized tool kit ($500
value), a feature digital article on automotive websites and the
opportunity to sell their vehicle at a Barrett-Jackson auction with proceeds being awarded
back to their school. In addition, all finalists had the
opportunity to receive mentorship from celebrity judges along the
way.
Each participating school was awarded ownership of their
customized vehicle from the competition along with credit accounts
at their local AutoZone stores in the following amounts:
- 2nd Place: Charles B.
Aycock High School – Pikeville,
North Carolina - $2,000
- 3rd Place: Satellite High School –
Satellite Beach, Florida -
$1,500
- 4th Place: Kearny
High School – Kearny, New
Jersey - $1,000
- 5th Place: New Trier High School –
Winnetka, Illinois - $750
"Quaker State believes in empowering the next generation of
automotive technicians, and the 'Best In Class Challenge' is our
special way of reaching out on a personal level to achieve just
that," explained Laura Jaime, Quaker
State North American Marketing Manager. "For the second year in a
row, these students have been put through the gauntlet of hands-on
automotive exercises to get their vehicles into auction block
shape. The hard work and creativity the students displayed
throughout the six-week challenge was an inspiring glimpse into the
future of our industry."
Throughout the six weeks of competition, the five auto shop
teams were tasked with a different challenge each week and were
responsible for customizing, restoring, and fine-tuning a pre-owned
Ford Mustang (valued at approximately $3,000) into a pristine, creative representation
of their school. Each team was judged weekly on various automotive
criteria that took into account before and after diagnostic testing
results, interior and exterior customization work, general engine
maintenance and overall creativity.
Competition judges and student mentors included Tommy Pike, owner of Tommy Pike Customs™ in
Greenville, South Carolina and
Mike Spagnola, vice president of OEM
& Product Development Programs of SEMA. In addition, actor and
car enthusiast Sung Kang
participated in the "Best In Class Challenge" as an automotive
mentor to the students.
"These teams pulled out all the stops this year to make their
Ford Mustang stand out from the rest and represent their schools,"
said Tommy Pike, an automotive
customization expert with more than 15 years in the business.
"Their eagerness to get under the hood and get their hands dirty
reminds me a lot of myself at their age. I have to give so much
credit to the instructors of these programs. The guidance,
encouragement and training that they provide often goes unnoticed
or unrecognized. The next generation of enthusiasts are dependent
on these programs and it has been a privilege to partner with them
and mentor these students."
As part of their prize package, the Red Jackets from Jordan
Vocational High School will attend the Barrett-Jackson auction in West Palm Beach, Florida on April 8, 2017. The students and their instructor,
Robert Harris, will be with their
customized vehicle when it is auctioned off to the highest bidder.
The gross proceeds earned from the auction will be awarded back to
the school as prize money.
"The Quaker State 'Best in Class Challenge' has been a life
changing experience for me and my students. This competition is
just what was needed for my students to see their potential. They
are ready for more now," shared Robert
Harris, automotive instructor, Jordan Vocational High
School. "The life lessons and relationships built would not have
been possible without this opportunity. All of my students in the
entire program have a bigger interest in cars now, not just the
team."
Starting in September 2016,
approximately 55 semi-finalist schools were responsible for
securing as many votes as possible to be nominated for the "Best in
Class Challenge." The team with the most votes from each of the
five markets, one from each market (Chicago, IL, Northern New Jersey, Atlanta, GA, Orlando, FL and Charlotte, NC), then became finalists and
moved on to compete in six weeks of automotive challenges.
Quaker State makes it its mission to provide motorists with
products that offer the value that they desire and expect. To stay
up-to-date on the latest Quaker State activities, be sure to 'Like'
the official Quaker State Facebook Page
(https://www.facebook.com/quakerstate) and follow Quaker State on
Twitter (https://twitter.com/quakerstate).
About Quaker State®
Quaker State® motor oil has a
100-year history as a leader in consumer automotive products and
vehicle care. Quaker State is among the industry's most
innovative motor oil brands and offers a full line of products to
meet vehicle engine needs. Quaker State is one of the first
brands to develop high mileage engine motor oil.
For more information about the full line of Quaker State
products, visit www.quakerstate.com.
About Shell Lubricants
The term 'Shell Lubricants'
collectively refers to the companies of Royal Dutch Shell plc that are engaged in the
lubricants business. Shell Lubricants companies lead the lubricants
industry, supplying more than 12 percent of global lubricants
volume. * The companies manufacture and blend products for use in
consumer, heavy industrial and commercial transport applications.
The Shell Lubricants portfolio of top-quality brands includes
Pennzoil®, Quaker State®, FormulaShell®, Shell TELLUS®, Shell
RIMULA®, Shell ROTELLA® T, Shell SPIRAX® and Jiffy Lube®.
*Kline & Company, "Global Lubricants Industry July 2015: Market Analysis and Assessment.
About AutoZone
As of August
27, 2016, AutoZone sells auto and light truck parts,
chemicals and accessories through 5,297 AutoZone stores in 50
states plus the District of
Columbia and Puerto Rico in
the U.S., and 483 stores in Mexico, 26 IMC branches and eight stores in
Brazil for a total count of
5,814.
AutoZone is the leading retailer and a leading distributor of
automotive replacement parts and accessories in the United States. Each AutoZone store carries
an extensive product line for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans
and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard
parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive
products. Many stores also have a commercial sales program
that provides commercial credit and prompt delivery of parts and
other products to local, regional and national repair garages,
dealers, service stations, and public sector accounts. IMC
branches carry an extensive line of original equipment quality
import replacement parts. AutoZone also sells the ALLDATA
brand diagnostic and repair software through www.alldata.com.
Additionally, we sell automotive hard parts, maintenance items,
accessories, and non-automotive products through www.autozone.com,
and accessories, performance and replacement parts through
www.autoanything.com, and our commercial customers can make
purchases through www.autozonepro.com and www.imcparts.net.
AutoZone does not derive revenue from automotive repair or
installation.
About Tommy Pike Customs
Tommy Pike Customs™ has been
a leader in the automotive customization industry for more than
fifteen years. Located in Greenville,
South Carolina, Tommy Pike
and his team provide a one-stop shop for all things automotive.
Specializing in modern muscle, performance and cutting edge
customization, Tommy Pike and his
team assist each customer with any level custom project.
To learn more about Tommy Pike Customs, visit
www.tommypikecustoms.com, "Like" them on
www.facebook.com/tommypikecustoms and "Follow" them on
www.twitter.com/tommypikecustom.
About The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company
Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Barrett-Jackson, The World's Greatest Collector Car
Auctions®, is the leader in collector car auctions and automotive
lifestyle events. The company produces auctions in Scottsdale, Arizona; Palm Beach, Florida; at Mohegan Sun in
Connecticut, and Las Vegas, Nevada. With broadcast partners,
Velocity and Discovery Channel, Barrett-Jackson will feature live television coverage
in 2016, including broadcasts in over 100 countries
internationally. Barrett-Jackson
also endorses a one-of-a-kind collector car insurance for collector
vehicles and other valued belongings. For more information about
Barrett-Jackson, visit
http://www.barrett-jackson.com, or call 480-421-6694.
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SOURCE Quaker State