Breaking Down the SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500

The moment has arrived. After months of regional qualifying events, the 2022 SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500 World Championship will be held today, Jan. 19, at World of Concrete outside the Las Vegas Convention Center.

2022 marks the 20^th year of the annual event, dubbed “The Super Bowl of Masonry.” The SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500 competition shines a spotlight on the top masons of the craft, and in doing so showcases the rewards and opportunities of masonry and construction.

For this year’s contest, 23 competitors will take the field, representing regions from across the country and continent; 30% of this year’s participants are first-time qualifiers.

They’ll have to get past last year’s defending champion, David Chavez, who is back to try to claim his third World Championship title. Also returning this year is Darian Douthit, who has won four Top Craftsman honors, including the last three; the competition’s Top Craftsman is selected by the judges for building a wall with the highest quality.

The masons and their tenders will have an hour to build the largest and best 26-foot-long brick wall they can, with as few errors as possible.

The winner will receive a new Ford F250 4x4 truck or Kubota RTV-X1140. Winning masons will also have a chance to take home thousands in additional cash and prizes from sponsors including Multiquip, STIHL, Marshalltown, Stabila, Hilti, Blaklader, and Iron Age.

Ready to watch the action, admire the skills, and see who wins? The SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500 gets under way at 11 a.m. in the Silver Lot in front of the Central Hall. You also can watch the event live on the SPEC MIX website or Facebook and YouTube channels.  

To learn more about the rules and see all 23 competitors, check out the SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500 digital magazine.