World Class Wednesday: J.R. Boyett: Encouraging Others to Achieve Excellence

Earning the title of Automotive Service Excellence World Class Technician is no small accomplishment. To be recognized as ASE World Class, these individuals have obtained ASE certification in 22 specialty areas: A1-A8 (automotive), T1-T8 (medium/heavy truck), B2-B5 (collision repair), and L1-L2 (advanced).

Not only is achieving certification in these areas impressive, but becoming ASE World Class is no small feat. As of 2025, only 2,000 technicians have achieved ASE World Class status.

In this Q&A, Motor Age sat down with J.R. Boyett — an ASE World Class technician at Christian Brothers in Meridian, Idaho — to learn more about his journey in the automotive industry and how gaining ASE World Class status has helped advance his career.

Motor Age: Please introduce yourself and tell us about your experience in the automotive industry.

J.R. Boyett: I have spent over 22 years in automotive repair, specializing in electrical and drivability.  I have worked on everything from drag race cars to boats. I achieved ASE World Class status at age 40 in 2025.

Motor Age: What's the most memorable repair you've ever completed?  

Boyett: Early on in my career — while working at a GM dealership — I had an Impala come in that had been to two other GM dealerships already. The complaint was a transmission shudder. I found that the overrun clutches were burned up.

I replaced them and took the vehicle for a test drive. While driving, I noticed that the 3.8L in the vehicle had a severe lack of power when taking off from a stop. I proceeded to diagnose the lack of power as it was causing the clutches to burn up. I burned up the same clutches again while diagnosing. I found that the MAF was dirty. I cleaned the MAF and fixed the transmission again. After that, the engine performance was restored, and the guest left happy.

If I had not investigated the lack of power, who knows how many times that vehicle would've been back with burnt clutches.

Motor Age: Tell us one thing about you that we can't guess from your certifications.

Boyett: I spent three years building and LS swapping a 1981 El Camino to drag race. I don't like to pay other people to do things that I can learn to do. As a result, I tuned the vehicle for optimal performance and consistency myself.

Motor Age: What automotive technology trend are you most excited about/ most concerned about?

Boyett: I believe that vehicle automation — specifically self-driving technology — will be both a monumental advancement and a significant challenge for the automotive industry.

On one hand, automation will likely lead to a reduction in accidents — whether they involve other vehicles or pedestrians. On the other hand, with self-driving also comes more systems with more expensive parts. This makes it more challenging for people to afford to fix and more challenging to diagnose.

Motor Age: How has ASE certification helped advance your career?

Boyett: I got a pay bump from ASE certification. Being able to show my skills and knowledge with my current employer helped me to get into the shop I am at now. It has also helped me to motivate my coworkers to earn ASE certifications. Now, we are one of two shops within over 100 miles that have the ASE Blue Seal of Excellence. I have also been asked to take part in many surveys, along with earning a few awards.