Valvoline Instant Oil Change on 10th Street has earned a national spotlight less than a year after opening its doors. The Great Bend shop has qualified for the Valvoline Oil Olympics, a companywide competition that tests which teams can deliver the “perfect oil change” using Valvoline’s meticulous Super Pro process.

Brent Howard, operations director for the LLC doing business as Valvoline Instant Oil Change, said the competition evaluates everything — from how a store opens in the morning to the precision of the oil change itself, down to tiny details. “The steps in the process are that direct,” he said. “It’s a highlight to see who can follow it perfectly.”

The Great Bend crew excelled during an in‑store test run, scoring high enough to earn an invitation to the national finals in Lexington, Kentucky, on May 12. They’ll compete against teams from roughly 800 corporate and franchise locations across the country.

Howard said the group has been practicing extensively — often volunteering their own time — to prepare for the event.

For Howard, who has spent 16 years in the industry, the qualification is a milestone. “This is the first time I’ve ever had a team qualify for the finals,” he said. “To even qualify is a huge ordeal. I can’t be more proud of these guys.”

Customer Service Representative Heath Smith commented, “This achievement was made possible through the incredible support and investment of our local community.”

The franchise is owned by LIO Oil LLC, which also has a store in Newton and will soon add a Salina location.

The Great Bend store, which opened early last fall, currently employs six or seven people. Now, they’re gearing up to show the rest of the country how Great Bend does an oil change.

Valvoline Instant Oil Change is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. No appointment is needed; customers just drive up and stay in their car for “an oil change in about 15 minutes.”