Jarek has been a teardown assistant for the past two years, and this is his first-year building in the Engine Builder Showdown. Earlier this year, he competed in the demo builds during the Memorial Day Weekend Fan Fest event. He credits his parents as the biggest influence on his career, saying, “Since day one, they’ve supported every decision I’ve made and continue to be my biggest motivation.” Jarek has a passion for working on Volkswagens, a tradition passed down from his dad, and enjoys taking on new VW projects whenever he visits Virginia. One of his biggest goals is to own a home with a garage where he can build and work on cars.

Nick is excited to compete as a first-time builder in this year’s event. His favorite cars to work on are JDM and Toyota models, and he hopes to one day drive a Nissan R34. A major bucket list goal for him is to visit every national park in the U.S. His advice to upcoming technicians is to “teach what you have learned because it helps you remember, and take things slow in the beginning.”

Chris Moroch is back this year as a previous 14-time builder Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown. “The biggest thing I’ve learned from my previous experiences is how much communication and teamwork play a role into a successful engine build,” Moroch said. The North Carolina resident states that his dad has made the biggest impact on his career. Watching his work ethic over the years had an everlasting effect, helping him aspire to be the best he can be. “The coolest thing I have been able to do in my career is being able to work around and learn from some really talented people over the years.” He also has a sound piece of advice for new technicians, “The one piece of advice I would give to a new technician would be to listen, learn and communicate with others better than anyone else.” Moroch is married with two children, James and Emma. On his bucket list of items to accomplish, he would like to climb Mount Everest in under 10 days.

Jeremy has been married to his wife, Ashton, for 13 years, and together they have a daughter, Emma, and a son, Landon. He credits Ashton as the person who has had the biggest impact on his career, with her unwavering support allowing him to pursue his dreams and advance professionally. Excited to compete as a first-time builder representing City Chevrolet in this year’s Engine Builder Showdown, Jeremy considers this event a career highlight. His favorite car to drive and work on is a Corvette, an American icon that embodies power, speed, and the American Dream. One of his bucket list goals is to attend the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

David has been married to his wife, Brittany, for 19 years, and together they have one son named Jordon. After spending the past two years as a builder assistant, he is returning this year to compete as a builder. David says he is “looking forward to the competition and the teamwork required to achieve a decent result.” He’s a fan of his Ford Ranger but still misses his Chrysler Crossfire, which he owned for about 15 years. One of his bucket list goals is to visit Mount Everest and see it in person.

Matthew is married to his wife, Elisabeth, and together they have one son, Nathan, who also works for Hendrick Automotive as a Parts Delivery Driver. Growing up he enjoyed fishing the waters of Charleston, SC and had a passion for anything with wheels, especially ATVs and dirt bikes. In the summertime you can find him at the beach with his wife hunting for shark teeth and enjoying lunch dates in the Lowcountry sunshine! He’s excited to participate as a first-time builder in this year’s Engine Builder Showdown. Next year he will be celebrating 20 years with the company and his advice to new technicians is to take your time, learn the basics, and never be afraid to ask questions.

Tyrus Gillen is making his fifth overall appearance in the Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown. Gillen loves anything Chevrolet and Harley-Davidson and would love to play at St. Andrews golf course one day. He first joined Hendrick Motorsports in March 2013, which was an important moment in his career. He credits David Evans for taking a chance on him at such a young age to join the engine shop. One of his best career accomplishments has been winning races with his childhood hero, Jeff Gordon. When asked about his career, he offered some important advice, “When starting in this industry my advice is to stay hungry. Never stop learning and always be willing to pass your knowledge to someone new.”

Ray has been with the company for over 25 years, and this will be his first time visiting Charlotte and competing in this event. He and his wife, Holly, share two children, Isabel and Blake, and he credits his family with having the greatest impact on his career. Ray says the most rewarding part of his work is being able to raise and support his family. His favorite car is a 1969 Mustang, and a bucket list destination he hopes to visit one day is Australia. The best advice he would give to a new technician starting out is to be patient.

Thomas has been married for 15 years and is a proud father to two boys, Thomas fourteen, and Benjamin seven. This is his first year as a builder, and he is excited to take part in the showdown and put his skills to the test. He is grateful to David Evans for the opportunity to work at Hendrick Motorsports and credits his wife Martina for encouraging him to pursue the path that led him here. His favorite car is the Audi S1 Quattro from the Group B rally era, and a bucket list experience of his is to ride solo in a rally car down a stage. One of his proudest career highlights was taking both of his parents to their first races and winning both.

Peter is married with two sons, Oliver and Eli, and has never competed in the Engine Builder Showdown but is excited about the opportunity. He credits his parents for shaping his work ethic, saying, “They always pushed me to do my best when I was younger.” While he doesn’t have a favorite car, he would love to own a 964 Porsche and work on any Lexus or Toyota. One of his bucket list goals is to travel to Australia or Europe, and one of the highlights of his career has been supporting his family while participating in work-related events. His advice to new technicians is, “Take it slow, focus on learning the trade, and don’t worry about what everyone else is doing.”

Joshua is married to his wife Lillian and together they have one child, Lawson. Speir has previously competed in 2015, 2021 through 2024. Over his years competing and observing he has learned that it takes teamwork, lots of focus, and proper tool placement to be a top contender. The North Carolina resident is very thankful to be a part of Hendrick Motorsports. The family values Mr. Hendrick instills throughout the organization have influenced Joshua’s outlook on his career. One of his biggest career accomplishments has been being part of Chase Elliot’s first championship in 2020. Speir’s favorite vehicle is a Mustang, he grew up around them and enjoys the driving experience. In the future, Joshua would like to go to the Grand Canyon. “Listen to the old-timers you might learn a few things,” Speir stated as advice he would give to a new builder.

William is married and has three children. He has competed in the Engine Builder Showdown many times, though he can’t remember exactly how many. Reflecting on his career, he says, “We are blessed to work for a company that values its employees and goes the extra mile to show that appreciation through programs like this.” Tafi Jaji has had the biggest impact on his career, with an exceptional ability to motivate and drive people. After 37 years in automotive repair, he now enjoys working on old tractors and vintage aircraft, with a bucket list goal of taking off and landing a vintage seaplane. His advice for new technicians is, “Run towards the work that everyone else is running away from; you will never run out of work,” and one of the coolest things in his career has been watching his dealership and organization grow over the past 28 years.

Brian is married to his wife Shannon, and together they have two daughters, Lilly who is fifteen, and Shelby who is twelve, along with their miniature longhaired dachshund, Jesse. He has competed in every Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown since 2012, except for 2013, finishing as runner-up in both 2012 and 2018. What he enjoys most about the competition is having fun and getting the chance to assemble engines, which is a change of pace from his usual work as a track tuner. One of the coolest accomplishments in his career is being part of the team that won the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship with Justin Allgaier and JR Motorsports, and his best advice for anyone new to racing is to stay humble and always keep learning.

Kyle is married with two daughters, Kendall, 10, and Kaylee, 7, he has a long history with the Engine Builder Showdown, competing in 2016 when he won, in 2017 as a returning champion, in 2019 at the 20th anniversary, and in 2022, earning the Jerry Hilson Award twice. From his experience, he has learned that “there is going to be a problem during the build, not if, but when, and you just need to work through it.” Inspired early by his high school auto shop teacher, Mr. Brown, he values toughness, fairness, and knowledge in mentorship. He enjoys hands-on projects and getting to build an electric go-kart for his kids. A bucket list goal is to save enough money to go on a “no-holds-barred vacation abroad.” His advice for aspiring technicians is if you want this, “go all in.”

Gage is competing for the third time in this year’s Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown. He brings a unique skill set to the competition, drawing from his experience with both Hendrick Motorsports and Spire Motorsports. Gage credits his past and present teammates, as well as his crew chiefs, for having the greatest impact on his career. His advice to new technicians is to get out to the racetracks and build connections for themselves.

Caleb is married to his wife, Marlee, and they have two sons, Luke, turning 3, and Levi, turning 5 in October 2025. This is his first time competing in the Engine Builder Showdown, and he’s excited to work with an experienced engine builder. He credits his wife for her support, saying, “She keeps everything running at home so I can focus at work.” A fan of anything fast, he hopes to one day drive around the Nürburgring, and one of his favorite experiences was a ride-along with a professional driver at the BMW Performance Center.

Derek is married to his wife Caroline, and together they have three children, Bristol, Elise, and Aston. This is his third year competing as a builder, having participated in both the 2023 and 2024 events. He credits David Evans as having the biggest impact on his career, as he was the one who hired him. A Corvette enthusiast, Derek hopes to one day own a C7 Z06. His advice to others is to give your best effort in everything you start, set clear goals for where you want to be, take the steps needed to reach them, and always be grateful to those who help you along the way. A career highlight for him was having his engine win with Dale Jr. as crew chief at Pocono.

Chris is married to his wife, Downey, and together they have two Great Danes, Harley and Shelby. This is his first time competing in the Engine Builder Showdown, and he’s excited to meet new people from both the automotive and motorsports side. He brings over 30 years of technician experience, the majority with Lexus and two years with Toyota. His advice to new technicians is to work harder than the next person, never shy away from a repair or diagnosis, and always keep learning to make yourself irreplaceable.

Danny Emerick, a seven-time Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown Champion, is married to his wife Crystal, and together they have an eight-year-old son, Everett. Over his years of experience at Hendrick Motorsports, Danny has learned that the company’s culture is the primary reason for success across all of Mr. Hendrick’s teams. “It’s impressive to witness how the overall Hendrick culture companywide relates to the company’s success,” Danny said. Danny credits his dad for instilling his unmatched work ethic and savvy problem-solving skills, and his mom for instilling her attention to detail and perseverance, both for overcoming any challenge. Danny’s favorite vehicles are early 1950s Chevrolet trucks. He loves their simplicity, beauty, and the era they represent. One day, he would love to see the Northern Lights, drive across Australia, and says one of the coolest moments he has had to date was meeting former President George W. Bush on pit road at Daytona International Speedway in 2004.

Craig has been married to his high school sweetheart for 25 years, and together they have two daughters, Leah and Livie. After 31 years as a technician, participating in this year’s Engine Builder Showdown is the highlight of his career. One of his bucket list items is to take his wife to Italy for their anniversary, and the best advice he offers to new technicians starting out is to learn to work smarter and harder.

Darren is married to his wife Carol, and together they have one son, Mason. He has participated in the Engine Builder Showdown for the past two years as support personnel and has taken part in live build demonstrations. Throughout his experience, he has learned the importance of managing tools efficiently and perfecting his focus on the task at hand. For Darren, the most exciting moment is when the completed engine fires up for the first time. He enjoys working on and driving BMWs, and one of his bucket list goals is to travel to Hawaii. His advice to new builders is to start by learning the basics of vehicles and engines.

Greg is participating in the Engine Builder Showdown for the first time as a domestic builder. He has been married to his wife, Donna, for 32 years, and together they have two children, Jenna and Paul. This Christmas will be especially exciting, as Greg and Donna are expecting their first grandson! In his free time, he enjoys playing golf, cornhole, and pickleball. Greg is looking forward to experiencing the competitive atmosphere of this year’s engine build.

Kevin Moler first participated in the Engine Builder Showdown in 2008. Throughout his experience, Moler realized that as a team you must work together for the best result. His career has been a continuous highlight reel, being part of numerous wins and championships at Hendrick Motorsports has been incredible. He is often asked how someone can work and get into the sport. “Anyone just starting in their career needs to focus and get all the training you can, knowledge is priceless,” Moler advises. His favorite vehicle is his Pontiac G8 and he has plans to find a low mile Chevrolet SS to put alongside it. He would love to go sky diving and go to Australia one day.

This will be Cameron’s first year competing in the Engine Builder Showdown, and he’s excited to meet new people and take part in an event that few get to experience. A lifelong Mustang enthusiast, he has owned several over the years, with his favorite being his Roush Stage 3 Mustang. Cameron has been married to his wife, Jackie, for 15 years, and they share a 13-year-old daughter named Brooke. At the top of his bucket list is traveling to Iceland to see the Northern Lights and visit the Blue Lagoon, and one of the highlights of his career was the opportunity to go deep-sea fishing with his coworkers.