Luis Prado Claims First Place at the North Texas SMBL500 Regional Series Event!

Luis Prado Takes Home the North Texas “Best Bricklayer” Title.

Waco, TX – Mason Luis Prado and his mason tender Eduardo Ramirez with Brazos Masonry won the North Texas Regional competition with a brick count of 682. This team crushed the competition with a 150+ brick count lead amongst the competition. Obtaining first place and the title is not the only thing the Prado-Ramirez team won. They earned themselves tickets to participate in the greatest event the construction industry offers, the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500®, taking place in Las Vegas at the World of Concrete Tradeshow on January 18th, 2023. Across North America 22 regional events take place, and only one team at each of these regionals can advance to the World Championship in Las Vegas! Each team consists of one mason and one mason tender, together, they must demonstrate that they have the skills to compete in what is known as the Superbowl of Masonry.

Given a 26-foot-wide wall and one hour, these teams must build the tallest brick wall with little to no craftsmanship errors to win the chance to wrangle at the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 in Las Vegas. Battling in Vegas comes with its perks; these teams can win a Ford F-250 truck, a Kubota RTV-X1140, an Essick Pro12 Mortar Mixer, and money, a combined total of over $125,000 in cash and prizes! Contenders will go all in to claim the title of “World’s Best Bricklayer.”

The Prado-Ramirez team claimed the North Texas “Best Bricklayer” title, winning them, $1,000, a 4-foot Stabila Level, a Marshalltown etched trowel, and their spot to compete in Las Vegas!

In second place at this regional competition were mason Javier Garcia and mason tender Jamarion Scott who were also with Brazos Masonry. This team laid 520 bricks in 60 minutes to claim second place and the “Top Craftsman” title. The Garcia-Scott team had the perfect wall, and for their efforts, they received a combined total of $1,250 and a 2-foot Stabila Level. 

Lastly, the third-place winners, a father and son team, mason Eric Miller and mason tender Eric Miller JR., with Miller and Son Masonry, laid 394 bricks. This father and son duo walked away from the competition with $500 and a 2-foot Stabila Level. 

Accompanied by the North Texas Regional event was the JR. BL500. This contest is a shortened version of the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500, where students and masonry apprentices display their skills for the chance to win cash and prizes! These competitors battle for the “JR BRICKLAYER 500 CHAMPION” title. This competition had two separate divisions, high school, and apprentice/trade school. The first-place winner at the high school JRBL500 was mason Blake Raley and mason tender Ben Jurica with Birdville high school. This team laid 91 bricks in 20-minutes to secure their first-place position. For their efforts, they won a total of $200, a $100 gift certificate from both Builders Equipment and Cisco Supply, a Marshalltown Trowel, Jag Clamps, Quikrete Gloves, and a Spec Mix Backpack full of gear. Second place was mason Kelton McBride and mason tender Victor Flores with Belton high school. This team laid 88 bricks winning them $150, a $100 gift certificate from both Builders Equipment and Texas Stucco, as well as the items that the first-place winner received. Lastly, in third place for the high school division were mason Hayden Mosley and mason tender Chad Robertson also with Belton high school. This team was close behind laying 84 bricks, winning them $100 in cash, a $100 certificate from both Builders Equipment and Cisco Supply, and the Spec Mix bag full of gear, along with the same items first and second-place winners received. 

The Apprentice/Trade school JRBL500 division first place winner was mason Francisco Jovel with Northlake College. He laid 150 bricks in 20-minutes, winning him $200 and a $100 gift certificate from both Builders Equipment & Texas Stucco. Second place winner was mason Dylan Johnson and mason tender Gabriel Hernandez with Dallas College. This team laid 141 bricks, winning them $150 and a $100 gift certificate from both Builders Equipment and Cisco Supply. Along with the cash and certificates, they won a Marshalltown Trowel, Jag Clamps, Quikrete Gloves, a Spec Mix Backpack, and additional masonry items. Lastly, in third place was mason Ruben Rico with Northlake College. He laid 120 bricks in 20-minutes, winning him $100 and a $100 gift certificate from both Builders Equipment and Texas Stucco. 

Disclosures:
In 2019, the SPEC MIX organization partnered with other masonry associations to create the Junior SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Competition. This year of the 22 Regional Series competitions, 12 will also hold Junior BRICKLAYER 500 contests that give high school and masonry apprentices the chance to compete for their state title. The program has proven remarkably successful and highly supported by the Mason Contractors Association of America, school administrators and numerous masonry supply manufacturers and dealers. To learn more, visit https://www.specmix.com/jr-spec-mix-bricklayer-500/.

If you are interested in becoming a fan, the 21st annual SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship will take place on January 18th, 2023, at the World of Concrete tradeshow in Las Vegas; the Las Vegas Convention Center Bronze Lot. At this competition, you will see 26 world-class masons lay it all on the line to claim their portion of the total purse valued at more than $125,000. Prizes include: a new Ford F-250 4×4 Super Duty truck, Kubota RTV-X1140, Multiquip Pro 12 Mortar Mixer, and other prizes from Hilti, IQ Power Tools, Stabila, Marshalltown, STIHL, Blaklader Workwear, and Belden Brick.

If you have any questions, or would like to set up an interview with any of the competitors, please contact Brian Carney at 612-859-4505 or by email at Brian.Carney@specmix.com

SPEC MIX is your North American source for high quality, factory produced cement-based building materials that are preblended for the construction industry. SPEC MIX products are precisely engineered to meet ASTM and building code requirements. Projects designed for the installation of brick, CMU, stone, stucco or building repair and restoration, SPEC MIX offers a full line of products packaged in 80 & 3,000-pound bags produced with state-of-the-art batching equipment to ensure quality and consistency from start to finish. For optimal jobsite efficiency, safety, and productivity, we provide contractors with numerous silo material mixing systems that maximize a contractor’s cost savings, safety and profitability. For more information, visit www.specmix.com.

2022 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 NORTH TEXAS REGIONAL RESULTS

2022 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 NORTH TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL RESULTS

2022 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 NORTH TEXAS APPRENTICE/TRADE SCHOOL RESULTS