The best masons in Illinois and the surrounding region came together to test their skill, speed and stamina by battling to see who could build the biggest and best 26-foot-long brick wall in one hour. The event is one of several SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional Series competitions to be held across North America in 2020. The winner of each regional qualifies to compete in the 2021 World Championship at the World of Concrete expo in Las Vegas.

Nine teams of masons and tenders lined the arena at ALL Masonry in Cicero, IL ready to prove they’re the best craftsmen in the region. Mason Marty Marrs and mason tender Tony Savant with Marrs Masonry in Terre Haute, IN took home top honors with a brick count of 625. Marrs also took the title, SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN, which goes to the mason who builds the “most sellable” wall. In total, Marrs and Savant won a free trip to Las Vegas for the World Championship, $1400 in cash, a $200 gift card from Ford Trucks, a Marshalltown tool bag, Stabila Level and the title, “Illinois Best Bricklayer.”