SMBL 500 World Championship

Words: Dan KamysApril 2016

Utah Mason Scott Tuttle Wins First Place at the 2016 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® World Championship

[caption id="attachment_12517" align="alignnone" width="600"]First Place winner of the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500, Scott Tuttle (foreground), with his brother and mason tender, Brian Tuttle. First Place winner of the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500, Scott Tuttle (foreground), with his brother and mason tender, Brian Tuttle.[/caption] Winning in Las Vegas isn’t easy, but for 38-year-old Scott Tuttle of Clearfield, Utah, it was almost as simple as another day on the jobsite. Tuttle, with the help of his older brother and mason tender, Brian Tuttle, drove five hours to Las Vegas to compete in the 14th Annual SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® World Championship competition on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016. Scott beat out 22 other world-class masons by laying 775 brick in one hour to earn the title “World’s Best Bricklayer,” a 2016 Ford F-250 4x4 Super Duty truck, and $15,000 in cash and prizes. Together the Tuttle brothers have qualified to compete in 13 of the past World Championship battles, which is a record in itself. Both have claimed an award at least once. In 2012, Scott was awarded the SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN® trophy, and in 2015 Brian won the SPEC MIX TOUGHEST TENDER® title. [caption id="attachment_12516" align="alignnone" width="600"]Scott and Brian Tuttle celebrate their win with their families. Scott and Brian Tuttle celebrate their win with their families.[/caption] Since the competition is recognized as the Super Bowl of the trade and premier event during the annual World of Concrete/World of Masonry tradeshow, making it to the final round is an honor. To earn a spot in the World Championship event, masons must win their regional qualifier competition, and only the previous year’s Champion and Top Craftsman winners are granted a spot to contend. The two-man teams are given 60 minutes to build a 26-foot 8-inch, double wythe brick wall while meeting strict quality standards. Judged by 24 industry experts, the award places are based on the highest brick counts meeting the strict quality standards and competition rules.
[caption id="attachment_12513" align="alignright" width="275"]Darian Douthit was a double winner this year, taking home the SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN Award as well as third place in the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500, earning him $8,000 in cash and an ESSICK PRO12 Mortar Mixer. Darian Douthit was a double winner this year, taking home the SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN Award as well as third place in the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500, earning him $8,000 in cash and an ESSICK PRO12 Mortar Mixer.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_12515" align="alignright" width="275"]Second Place went to North Carolina’s Mason and returning SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN winner Garrett Hood with Huntley Brothers Co. Second Place went to North Carolina’s Mason and returning SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN winner Garrett Hood with Huntley Brothers Co.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_12514" align="alignright" width="275"]SPEC MIX TOUGHEST TENDER winner Tony Shelton on the winners stand with check and trophy. SPEC MIX TOUGHEST TENDER winner Tony Shelton on the winners stand with check and trophy.[/caption]
Following the Champion distinction, the second most coveted title is the SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN award for what the panel of judges rates the “most sellable” wall meeting the required 500 brick count with zero deductions. Two-time World Champion (2008 and 2010), mason Garrett Hood, came in second this year by laying 716 brick. Garrett and his mason tender, Ed Huntley, are both with Huntley Brothers Co. Inc. in Monroe, N.C. Since he started competing in Las Vegas in 2008, in addition to two first place finishes, Garrett has now won three second place awards and a SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN Award at the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship competition. Third place and the 2016 SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN Award went to Oklahoma native Darian Douthit, with Providence Masonry in Miami, Okla., who laid 687 brick. This was his first time winning the SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN Award. As the competition’s 3rd place finisher, Darian won the same title he claimed in the 2013 World Championship. Tennessee’s mason tender Tony Shelton with Creative Masonry, located in Limestone, Tennessee, took home the SPEC MIX TOUGHEST TENDER® Award this year with a winning time of 15 minutes, 22 seconds. Congratulations to Tony for taking home $2,500 for his hard work, and showcasing the important role of mason tenders. Tony won the award in 2014 and has been a team member in two first-place finishes in 2013 and 2015 with mason Fred Campbell. This undercard contest for mason tenders is held before the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 and focuses on the mason tender preparing the mason’s work area in a detailed and pre-defined way in the fastest time possible. The SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® was established by SPEC MIX, Inc. in 2003 to showcase the skill and craftsmanship of professional masons, and is featured as the headliner event of Masonry Madness™ Day. The SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship drew as many as 4,000 spectators in attendance with thousands of live webcast viewers. [caption id="attachment_12512" align="alignnone" width="600"]The crowd cheers on their favorite masons at the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship. The crowd cheers on their favorite masons at the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship.[/caption] The 2016 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship relies on the support of its outstanding sponsors who support the event’s mission to promote the craftsmanship of masons and the masonry construction industry.
For more information on the competition, the prizes and the sponsors, visit www.specmixbricklayer500.com.
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