IMSA and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) have announced a multi-faceted partnership that will aim to combat some of the challenges within the industry for each of IMSA's 18 participating manufacturers--while raising the standard of service the motoring public receives at every dealership service center those manufacturers stand behind.

Each manufacturer that races within IMSA operates its own dealer network, and most of those dealers feature service centers that care for millions of vehicle owners every year. However, there is a critical, persistent and ongoing staffing shortage of skilled technicians to support each dealer and service center--a gap the motoring public feels directly whenever a vehicle needs maintenance or repair. With IMSA and ASE working together, this partnership will provide an aligned and integrated pipeline of ASE Certified technicians prepared to work on the same sophisticated manufacturer vehicles customers drive every day, the sanctioning body said.

The layered approach will work with a three-pronged effort:

• Expand awareness of ASE Certification as the trusted benchmark for service professionals
• Identify career pathways in the transportation industry
• Position ASE as a major driver in meeting manufacturer needs

"ASE is excited to partner with IMSA to highlight the critical role of ASE Certified technicians--the men and women who meet the highest independently verified standards in the industry, on and off the track," said Dave Johnson, president and CEO of ASE. "Every time a driver hands over their keys at a dealership service center, they deserve the confidence of knowing an ASE Certified technician is working on their vehicle. IMSA's commitment to innovation and STEM education aligns perfectly with ASE's mission, and together we are elevating the visibility of technician careers and showing how advanced training is vital to the safe service and repair of today's technically advanced vehicles."

For the motoring public, ASE Certification is a signal that a technician has demonstrated the knowledge, training and hands-on skill to service today's increasingly complex vehicles, the organization said. Every ASE Certified technician has passed rigorous, independently developed exams and verified hands-on experience. Because the 18 manufacturers competing in IMSA depend on their dealer service networks to deliver that same quality and trust long after the sale, the alignment between IMSA's OEMs and ASE Certified service staff translates directly to safer vehicles, more reliable repairs and confidence for vehicle owners nationwide, the organization said.

The program also aligns ASE and IMSA STEM initiatives. IMSA STEM powered by Gainbridge and Konica Minolta is now in its second year of operating at both IMSA race events and digitally. The aim is to shift the focus from simply advanced degrees to greater advanced training. Essentially, this will outline what a training/career technical education path will look like compared to a standard four-plus-year college degree.

"Building the next generation of technicians to service the cars on the road is as important as developing the next generation of talented drivers, crew members and workers within the IMSA paddock as a whole," said IMSA President John Doonan. "We've seen remarkable participation in our IMSA STEM events already, and with this new partnership between IMSA and ASE, we're confident that the ASE Certified technicians emerging from this pipeline will be the trusted hands the motoring public relies on at our manufacturer partners' service centers nationwide as they work toward their certifications."

For more information, visit imsa.com.