Joel Christensen, who is employed by Southern Honda Powersports in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was the winner of Honda’s first National Technician Contest. Organized to promote Honda’s Powersports technical training programs, the National Finals were held at the Honda campus in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Christensen was among the finalists determined through an online qualification test open to Honda Powersports technicians across the country (both 2 and 4-wheels). Advancement to the National Finals required completion of Honda’s Red-level training. The other Two-Wheel finalists were Devin Paulsen from Honda of Sioux Falls (Sioux Falls, South Dakota); Jake Stifter from Davis Motorsports of Delano (Delano, Minnesota); and Santiago Webber from Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda (Dallas, Texas).
The Finals for the Honda National Technician Contest included Knowledge tests, Off-Vehicle tests and On-Vehicle tests, the latter taking part on Gold Wings and Pioneer 1000s. Following the event, participants and their guests were hosted in a side-by-side driving experience in Honda Talons at Iron Mountain Park.
“It’s still hard to wrap my head around, because I really didn’t think I was going to win this,” Christensen admitted following his Two-Wheel victory. “It’s just one of those things where you do all the stuff behind the scenes, and this is actually proving that I know what I’m doing. I have the vindication that the last almost 20 years have actually gotten me somewhere.”
Beyond the reputational benefits, Christensen earned a Grand Prize including a 40-inch Snap-On tool cart, an 18-volt half-inch drive Snap-On impact wrench, a $3,000 Snap-On gift card and a customized Honda Motocompacto.
“Congratulations to all of our finalists for the inaugural Honda National Technician Contest,” said Jeremy Merzlak, American Honda Director of the Aftersales Experience Division. “This group is the best of the best, and we’re proud to have them representing Honda’s powersports aftersales program. It was exciting to see them in action this week, and I’m gratified that they’re receiving the recognition they deserve. Our hope is that through this initiative, Honda Powersports technicians around the country will be inspired to work hard to achieve their own potential, elevating service standards across our dealership network and enhancing customer satisfaction.”
The second annual Honda National Technician Contest is planned for early next year, and a 2027 edition is in the works as well. National Champions from the three years will compete for the chance to travel to Japan for the Honda Global Technician Contest in 2027.
