Bruce Miller wins the Iowa Spec Mix Bricklayer 500 Regional Competition!

Bruce Miller claims the “Iowa’s Best Bricklayer” and “Top Craftsman” titles!

At the Iowa SMBL500 Regional competition, Mason Bruce Miller and his tender George Goitia with Miller Masonry took the first place and Top Craftsman positions. This duo is from Riverside, Iowa, and have competed at the Iowa regional event four times over the years, and this year was their first win! The event occurred October 6th, 2023, at TCC Materials in central Iowa; the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® Regional Event was a hit. Multiple teams from across Iowa and Illinois battled for first place, and the competition was fierce.

With only a 10-brick lead amongst the second-place team, the Miller-Goitia team laid 667 bricks in 60 minutes to take it all. Not only did they win first place, but their wall was deemed perfect by the judges, winning them the Top Craftsman award. For their zero-deduction wall, they won a combined total of $1,100, a 2-foot Stabila Level, a Marshalltown Tool Bag, and most importantly, two tickets to compete at Nationals in Las Vegas! On January 24th, 2024, The SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championships will commence in the Bronze Lot at the World of Concrete Tradeshow in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

The 2023 Regional Series includes 23 events throughout the United States and Canada. To qualify for the SMBL500 event in Las Vegas, teams will compete at one of the 23 individual regionals and battle for first place to secure their spot in the national competition. The teams consist of one mason and one tender; working on a 26-foot-wide wall, they have 60 minutes to lay as much brick as possible with the fewest craftsmanship errors. These teams are only allowed to compete once at one regional event throughout the year, and each duo that wins first place will advance to what is known as the “Superbowl of Masonry.” At the World Championship, they will compete to win part of $125,000 in cash in prizes, including a Kubota RTV-X1140, Essick Pro12 mixer, and of course, the title, “World’s Best Bricklayer.”

The second-place winner was close behind, laying 657 bricks in 60 minutes. Mason Tommy Iezek and tender Ben Wolf with Maxon Masonry, who competed at the 2023 National event, took the second-place position at the Iowa Regional. For second, they won $350, a 2-foot Stabila Level, and a Marshalltown Tool Bag. The third-place team was Dellis Miller and tender Austin Miller with Miller Masonry. They laid 518 bricks in 60 minutes, winning $200, a 2-foot Stabila Level, and a Marshalltown Tool Bag. 

Disclosures:

In 2019, the SPEC MIX organization partnered with other masonry associations to create the JR. SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Competition. In 2023, of the 23 Regional Series competitions, 15 will also hold a JR. BRICKLAYER 500 contest to allow high schoolers and masonry apprentices to compete for top honors and prizes. 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/.

2024 World Championship: If you are interested in becoming a fan, the 22nd annual SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship will take place on January 24th, 2024, at the World of Concrete tradeshow in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Las Vegas Convention Center Bronze Lot. At this competition, 25 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 Kubota RTV-X1140, Multiquip Pro 12 Mortar Mixer. Additionally, there will be other prizes from Hilti, Hydromobile, IQ Power Tools, QUIKRETE Companies, Razor-Back Tools, Stabila, Marshalltown, STIHL, Hohmann & Barnard, and Belden Brick. 

2023 JOURNEYMEN SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 IOWA REGIONAL RESULTS