Manuel Prado Wins the 2021 North Texas Regional Series

Earns title, “Best Bricklayer in North Texas.”

Fort Worth, TX – He laid 646 brick in only one hour! Mason Manuel Prado and mason tender Eduardo Ramirez with Brazos Masonry in Waco, TX teamed up to earn the title, “Best Bricklayer in North Texas.” Prado and Ramirez beat out 8 other local teams, officially winning their shot to compete on the biggest stage in masonry, the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500, in Las Vegas at the World of Concrete Expo in January 2022.

To qualify for the World Championship, hundreds of teams from across North America will battle to win one of 20 individual regional series events, proving they belong on the national stage. Each team, consisting of one mason and one mason tender, will be given an hour to build the tallest and best 26-foot-long brick wall they can, with as few errors as possible. One winning team from each region will advance to compete for over $125,000 in cash and prizes (including a new Ford F-250 4×4 Truck, Kubota RTV-X1140) and the title, “World’s Best Bricklayer.”

This is the first time Prado has qualified for the World Championship, beating out several former World Championship qualifiers, and doing so with a brick count that immediately makes him a contender to land on the podium on Las Vegas. To put his regional qualifying victory into context, last year’s World Champion, Houston, TX native, David Chavez, laid 678 brick to earn the title “World’s Best Bricklayer.” Prado fell just 32 brick short of that total, an impressive total for one hour of labor.

Prado and Ramirez left Ft. Worth with $1000 along with a free trip to Las Vegas, a 4′ Stabila Level, $200 Blaklader gift certificate, $200 gift certificate from Ford and a Marshalltown ceremonial trowel and tool bag.

Second place went to Lupe Martinez and mason tender Luis Martinez, with Dee Brown Masonry in Dallas, TX with 519 total brick. For their efforts, the team took home $750, a 4′ Stabila level and a Marshalltown tool bag.

Third place, and the coveted SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN award, which goes to the mason with the most-sellable wall, went to Justin Pierce and mason tender Michael Pierce of RP Masonry in Mansfield, TX with a brick count of 501, for their efforts, the team took home a combined $1000, a 4′ Stabila level and a Marshalltown tool bag.

Happening at the same time as the journeyman competition, area high school and masonry apprentices had a chance to showcase their skills in the JR. SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500. Designed to be an abbreviated version of the main event, the competition showcases the future of masonry. Each apprentice leaves with a prize in hand, but only one is named the region’s best apprentice, a title which could go a long way when being considered by contractors for future employment.

Mason Omar Alcala with the United Masonry Contractors Association (UMCA) in Dallas, TX won the apprentice level event with a brick count of 121, taking home $200 and a $150 gift certificate from Blaklader.

Mason Rayhan Shah with Belton High School in Belton, TX won the high school level event with a brick count of 66, taking home $200 and a $150 gift certificate from Blaklader.

As workforce development becomes the primary battle cry for the skilled trades, the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 is a tool designed to create interest from a new generation of masons in the rewards and opportunities possible in masonry and construction.

The 20th annual SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship will be held January 19th, 2022 at the World of Concrete expo in Las Vegas. Prizes total more than $125,000 and include a new Ford F-250 4×4 Super Duty truck, Kubota RTV-X1140, Multiquip Mortar Mixer, and other prizes from IQ Power Tools, Stabila, Marshalltown, STIHL, Blaklader, Iron Age Footwear and Belden Brick.

2021 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 NORTH TEXAS REGIONAL RESULTS

2021 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 NORTH TEXAS REGIONAL RESULTS – APPRENTICE LEVEL

2021 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 NORTH TEXAS REGIONAL RESULTS – HIGH SCHOOL

Bricks, Blocks and Bags for Bikes Masonry Auction Raises $79,600

Proceeds will be used to purchase 1,600 bicycles for kids in the Dallas-Fort Worth community.

In an auction fueled by the Texas masonry community, SPEC MIX, LLC, a QUIKRETE Company, raised a record $79,600 through its Bricks, Blocks and Bags for Bikes charity auction. The money raised will be used to purchase nearly 1,600 bicycles for underserved children in the Dallas-Fort Worth community.

This is the third year SPEC MIX Regional Manager, Trey Harris, has organized the Christmas charity auction. The previous two year’s combined, the Bricks, Blocks and Bags for Bikes campaign has raised more than $110,000, helping to purchase over 2,000 bicycles. Teaming up with Larry Sauls and Friends, Harris and the SPEC MIX team will put together and deliver a personal record number of bicycles to donate for distribution through WFAA’s Santa’s Helpers.

Harris said, “I can’t even believe it. Every year we set out to break last year’s fundraising effort, and every year I’m blown away at how generous the Texas masonry community is. The fact that we can say we are giving 1,600 bicycles to kids in our community is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.”