Penske Truck Leasing recognized 44 of its top maintenance professionals during the 2025 National Tech Showdown, held at the Team Penske race shop in Mooresville, North Carolina. The internal competition brought together nearly 3,000 technicians and customer service representatives from across the United States and Canada for a series of timed exams, skill challenges, and diagnostic tasks.
Penske said this year’s event marked several milestones, such as female technicians competing in the finals for the first time, the return of seven 2023 national finalists, and the largest prize pool in Tech Showdown history.
Associates competed in one of two tracks: Tech Pro, for Tech I and Tech II associates, and Preventive Maintenance (PM) Plus, for Tech III associates and customer service representatives. Each was designed to test bumper-to-bumper knowledge across all major brands in Penske’s fleet.
Top Honors in Tech Pro & PM Plus
Conner Fletcher earned first place in Tech Pro after competing against 25 other national finalists.
Erick Mckenzie placed first in the PM Plus, topping a field of 17 other competitors.
Each finalist completed both a 25-minute online exam and a one-hour hands-on assessment designed to test critical thinking, technical depth, and on-the-job decision-making.
“The Tech Showdown is a reflection of the discipline and expertise our maintenance teams bring to work every day,” said Art Vallely, president of Penske Truck Leasing. “It’s an opportunity to recognize the precision and focus that keep our customers moving and our operations strong. They are the best in the business.”
Other Top Contenders’ Results by Category
Penske said this year’s top finishers also included:
Tech Pro Recognitions
Second place: Brian Reynolds, of Parkersburg, West Virginia
Third place: Todd Wilcox, of Mobile, Alabama
PM Plus Recognitions
Second place: Dhruv Rana, of Kearny, New Jersey
Third place: Cody Allen, of Kansas City, Missouri
“This competition is built to reflect the grit, pressure, and real-world challenges our teams face,” said Holly Gerke, vice president of maintenance development and technical training. “These finalists have trained, adapted, and executed with accuracy. It shows the strength of their preparation and the value of continued learning across our organization.”
Path to the 2025 Tech Showdown
The 2025 Tech Showdown followed eight weeks of district and area-level competitions. At each stage, participants completed online and hands-on exams, earning escalating monetary awards and the opportunity to represent their locations on the national stage.
The national finalists earned the highest-level recognition and awards offered through the program.
Penske said its investment in Tech Showdown is part of a broader commitment to training, recognition, and career development for its 11,500-plus maintenance associates across North America.
