The National Auto Auction Association put in its bid and now has an acquisition coming down the lane.

NAAA has purchased the World Automobile Auctioneers Championship from Paul Behr, announcing the deal at the 2022 WAAC event in Des Moines, Iowa.

Behr has owned WAAC since 2005.

The event brings in the nation’s top auctioneers annually for its annual competition, which celebrates “the very best of automobile auctioneering,” NAAA said.

“NAAA understands how important auctioneers and ring people are to our member auctions and the work they put in to ensure successful sales,” NAAA president R. Charles Nichols said in a news release. “I would like to thank NAAA’s executive officers and board of directors for their support and recognition of the significance of this event to our industry.”

NAAA chief executive officer Tricia Heon added: “This premier event highlights the importance of the auctioneer profession every year. This is an exciting partnership for NAAA and aligns with the goals of our Workforce Initiative to assist our industry in recruiting skilled and talented employees.”