What started with nearly 3,000 competitors has come down to just 44 of Penske’s skilled maintenance technicians and preventive maintenance professionals. These standout finalists are headed to the 2025 National Tech Showdown – a high-stakes competition that celebrates the precision, expertise and pride of our frontline service teams.
“Tech Showdown is more than a contest – it’s a celebration of the talent, expertise and dedication that powers our business every day,” said Art Vallely, president of Penske Truck Leasing. “This year’s event raises the bar, sets a new standard for excellence and further emphasizes our deep commitment to investing in and developing our maintenance team.”
Over the past eight weeks, competitors moved through district and area competitions that tested their technical knowledge and problem-solving abilities through a mix of online exams and hands-on challenges. The top performers from each area earned their spot at Nationals, where they’ll compete for the top honor and unprecedented awards.
This year brings several exciting milestones. Three women are among the national finalists – a first in Tech Showdown history. Seven competitors are returning after participating in the 2023 competition. And for the first time, 12 additional finalists have been awarded Golden Pit Passes – special invitations recognizing their performance and potential.
Now in its 25th year and with the largest award pool in program history, the final round takes place June 12 at the Team Penske racing headquarters in Mooresville, North Carolina.
Want a closer look at the action? Follow along on social media as we celebrate our finalists and share more from Mooresville as the road to Nationals reaches the finish line.
By: Caitlin Stibitz
Ryan Sutherland, a Penske technician 1 from Madison, Wisconsin, competes in the 2019 Penske Tech Showdown finals.
From left: Gregg Mangione, senior vice president of maintenance; Brenden Waggy, third place; Stanley Lindler, second place; David Sledziewski, first place; Dan Ferrer, fourth place; Mark Parisotto, fifth place; Art Vallely, president