Grant Helms lays 762 Bricks to win the North Carolina Spec Mix Bricklayer 500 Event!

Grant Helms claims the “North Carolina’s Best Bricklayer” title.

It was October 5th, 2023, at Ben Ketchie Park in Gold Hill, North Carolina, where Grant Helms with Helms Masonry, Inc., laid 762 bricks at the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® North Carolina Regional competition. Masons from across North Carolina picked up their trowels and battled fiercely in the 60-minute competition to claim the first-place position in hopes of moving forward to compete at the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championships, taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada at the World of Concrete Tradeshow on January 24th, 2024.

It was a clash between family members, as Grant Helms competed against his uncle Keith Helms, and father Scott Helms in the North Carolina Regional event. Triumphantly, Grant Helms and his tender Michael Ridenhour crushed the competition with over a 100+ brick margin above the second-place team. For his performance, Grant won $500, a 2-foot Stabila Level, and a Marshalltown Tool Bag. At only 21 years old, Grant swept the field, securing his spot in Las Vegas this upcoming January. Last year was his first time participating in the SMBL500 journeymen competition; squeezing his way into Nationals, Grant was selected as the “Wild Card”. In 2022, Grant placed second at his regional event, however, he had the highest brick count amongst all the second-place winners during the regional series competitions. Laying an impressive 714 bricks, he secured the Wild Card stall for last year’s Nationals. Grant and his tender did not place in the top three at the 2023 World Championships, so the question remains, will he and his tender redeem themselves, and climb to the top at the 2024 SMBL500? 

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 at the North Carolina Regional was David Kelly and Nick Cambell with Kelly Masonry. Laying 642 bricks in 60 minutes, this team was deemed by the judges to have the ‘most-sellable’ wall. Their zero-deduction wall won them the “Top Craftsman” title and award. For their perfect wall, this team won a combined total of $750, a 2-foot Stabila Level, and a Marshalltown Tool Bag. Out of all the regional events, amongst the second-place winners, this team placed 4th for the highest brick count. Unfortunately, they were 46 bricks shy of the current Wild Card holder, but we hope to see them back for the journeymen competition next year! Lastly, in third place was mason Keith Helms and tender Scott Helms with Helms Masonry Inc. Laying 625 bricks in 60 minutes, this team won $350, a 2-foot Stabila Level, and a Marshalltown Tool Bag. Accompanied by the North Carolina Regional event was the JR. BL500 competition. This contest is a shortened rendition 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. In first place was Mason Ridenhour and tender Wyatt Trexler with East Rowan High School. Laying an astounding 315 bricks in 20- minutes, winning him $200, a Stabila Level, and a Marshalltown Trowel. Mason is no stranger to the competition, as he took home the SPEC MIX Traveling Trophy the first year the JR. BL500 was hosted. In second place was mason Corbin Nations and tender Mark Truman with West Rowan High School. This team laid 267 bricks in 20 minutes, winning them $150, a Stabila Level, and a Marshalltown Trowel. Following close behind, in third place, were Coleson Palmer and Jesse Thompson with North Stanley High School. This team was 10 bricks shy of second place, laying 257 bricks, winning them $100, a Stabila Level, and a Marshalltown Trowel. In addition to the JR. BL500 competition, the North Carolina Regional hosted “Masonry Education Day”. Students in attendance learned the ins and outs of masonry by getting their hands dirty, playing in the mud, and learning how to lay bricks!

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 NORTH CAROLINA REGIONAL RESULTS

2023 JUNIOR SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 NORTH CAROLINA REGIONAL RESULTS – APPRENTICE CLASS