Carlos Zamudio wins the Oklahoma Spec Mix Bricklayer 500 Regional event!

Carlos Zamudio claims the “Oklahoma’s Best Bricklayer” and “Top Craftsman” titles!

On October 5th, 2023, the Oklahoma SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® regional competition took place. Masons and tenders from across the state picked up their trowels to compete for the “Oklahoma’s Best Bricklayer” title. The 60-minute competition took place at Brown Supply Co., in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Carlos Zamudio a returning Oklahoma Regional Champion took the stage. Carlos has competed many times over the years, and this is his third time winning the Oklahoma regional, and second time claiming the “Top Craftsman” title. Carlos Zamudio and his tender David Taylor claimed the first-place position by laying 567 bricks in 60 minutes. Their wall had zero deductions, and according to the judges, they had the ‘most-sellable’ wall. This duo walked away with $1,100 in cash, a 2-foot Stabila Level, and a Marshalltown Tool Bag, and secured their position to battle at the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championships. The SMBL500 will take place at the World of Concrete Tradeshow in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 24th, 2024. 

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 Oklahoma Regional event was Adan Marrufo and Mario Marrufo with Red Falcon Masonry. This team laid 347 bricks in 60 minutes. This was their first time competing and had applied to participate after seeing one of our SMBL500 videos on the SPEC MIX official TikTok Page. For their efforts, they won $400, a 2-foot Stabila Level, and a Marshalltown Tool Bag. In Third place was Zach Drew and tender Danny Burgess with Rentfrow Masonry. This team was close behind second, laying 318 bricks in 60 minutes. This was Drew’s first time competing, and for his efforts won $300, a Stabila Level, and Marshalltown Tools. 

Accompanied by the Oklahoma 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 Seth Habiger with Al Slattery Masonry. He laid an impressive 131 bricks in 20 minutes, winning him $100. This was Seth’s first time competing in the JR. BL500 competition! In second place was Brandon Giddens, also with Al Slattery Masonry, and he laid 106 bricks, winning him $50. Lastly, in third was John Andrews with Al Slattery Masonry, he also laid 106 bricks, but after judges reviewed his wall, he was deemed third. Brandon Giddens in second had a cleaner wall giving him the second-place position. For John’s efforts, he received $50. All the competitors in the JR BL500 did extremely well as this was their first time competing in the event!

Disclosures:

In 2019, the SPEC MIX organization partnered with other masonry associations to create the JR. SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Competition. In 2024, of the 22 Regional Series competitions, 20 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/.

2025 World Championship: If you are interested in becoming a fan, the 23rd annual SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship will take place in January 2025, at the World of Concrete tradeshow in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Las Vegas Convention Center Bronze Lot. At this competition, world-class masons lay it all on the line to claim their portion of the total purse valued at more than $125,000.

2023 JOURNEYMEN SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 OKLAHOMA REGIONAL RESULTS

2023 JUNIOR SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 OKLAHOMA REGIONAL RESULTS – APPRENTICE CLASS