World Class Wednesday: Michael Storey: A Master Always Sets an Example

Earning the title of Automotive Service Excellence World Class Technician is no small accomplishment. To be recognized as 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 as of 2026, only 2,000 technicians have achieved World Class status.

In this Q&A, Motor Age sat down with Michael Storey—an ASE World Class technician and a director of training for Chapel Hill Tire in the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina—to learn more about his journey in the automotive industry and how gaining World Class status has helped advance his career.

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

Michael Storey: I spent the last 34 years diagnosing and repairing a wide range of vehicles from daily drivers and muscle cars to heavy equipment and emergency power plants, including 14 years of formal teaching experience. I achieved World Class status at age 51 in 2025.

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

Storey: Early in my career, I worked on a minivan with a complaint that the compass on the overhead console would get stuck, but only on trips. I could never find anything wrong until they dropped the vehicle off right after a trip. 

Sitting between the seats was a wooden console with a CB radio, and there was a magnet-mount CB antenna on the passenger floorboard. Sure enough, there were small scratches on the roof right above the compass from where the magnet was placed. This reinforced that there is always an answer if you dig deep enough. It wasn’t a highly technical repair, but it was memorable.

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

Storey: I have had some wonderful mentors over the years. They helped instill the importance of a solid understanding of the fundamentals and helped me build my diagnostic process. 

Once I accepted that it was all nuts, bolts, and wires, I was able to connect the dots on various mechanical and electrical systems outside of my initial comfort zone. Including building automation and power generation. The reward my mentors wanted was for me to pass their knowledge on, which directly led me to my teaching/training roles.

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

Storey: I am excited about the potential that ADAS and autonomous driving present. My concern with ADAS is that, given the almost seamless operation, many drivers unknowingly have mid-level ADAS systems that save them from an accident on a regular basis. When the system has a fault and is offline, if they drive like they normally do, someone could get hurt.

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

Storey: I obtained my ASE Auto Master certification to project a professional image and gain customer confidence. It created some wonderful opportunities for me over the years, including the opportunity to teach at the college level for over a decade and my current role.

I did not hear about World Class until I was almost 50, but as director of training, I sought the opportunity to set an example for our up-and-coming techs. That no matter your position, you should continue to learn, grow, and get additional certifications.