SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® Regionals Are Under Way Words: Dan Kamys12 September -- 2016 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® Regional qualifier events are happening all over North America. Top masons are throwing their hat in the ring to earn a spot at the World Championship in Las Vegas, representing their country, state or province. Before they can advance to the World Championship round on January 18, 2017, in Las Vegas, and compete for the title: “World’s Best Bricklayer,” they have to take 1st place at one of the 22 Regionals held in North America. To date, the Regional winners from three states (Missouri, Florida, and Ohio) represent some new faces to the Regional winner’s podium, while Oregon and Utah will be returning their veteran competitors Ben Griffin and past World Champion winners the Tuttle Brothers. Next up in September are Regionals for Colorado, Wisconsin, Texas-Houston, Quebec, Pennsylvania and Louisiana. The Regional competition involves a two-person team consisting of a mason and a mason tender that are given 60 minutes to construct a 26-foot, 8-inch, double-wythe brick wall while meeting strict quality standards with a brick deduction system for quality infractions. The highest adjusted brick count wins the event. The Regional Winners from this season will compete against the returning 2016 World Champion, Scott Tuttle of Utah and SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN®, Darian Douthit of Oklahoma, who each laid 775 and 687 bricks, respectively, and will be defending their titles in Vegas. The 2016 Regional competitions started in mid-June in St. Louis, Missouri, and will run through the October 28, when the Regional season wraps in Dickson, Tenn. Then the winning masons will head to the big showdown in Las Vegas for a shot at a total cash and prize list worth $100,000, with the overall winner taking home the title “World’s Best Bricklayer,” a 2017 Ford F-250 XLT 4x4 truck, and nearly $15,000 in cash and prizes. Check out the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional Schedule at www.specmixbricklayer500.com to attend or compete in a Regional competition nearest you! 2016 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® REGIONAL WINNERS TO-DATE SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – Missouri Winner First Place Mason – Josh Jackson - 475 Brick Tender – Greg Jackson Jackson Masonry, Edwardsville IL SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – Florida Winner First Place Mason – David Langston – 334 Brick Tender – Antonio Barrera Masonry Incorporated, Tallahassee, FL SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – Ohio Winner First Place Mason – Cole Stamper – 496 Brick Tender – Forest Stamper Mason Structure, Lexington, KY SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – Utah Winner First Place Mason –Brian Tuttle - 590 Brick Tender – Scott Tuttle Quick Trowel Masonry, Salt Lake City, UT SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – Oregon Winner First Place Mason –Ben Griffin - 267 Brick Tender – Rory Chessie Keystone Masonry, Yelm, WA For complete details on upcoming regional championships and sponsors, visit www.specmixbricklayer500.com.