A new contest record
711.9656
highest overall ever cooked here
711.9656 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 698.8116 Triple H BBQ set in 2022.
- old record 698.8116
- set 2022 by Triple H BBQ
Smokin' for Garrett 2023
Oct 6–7, 2023 · Mt. Carmel, IL · 📍 315 Market Street · State championship
Reps: Kent Schuetz, Rachel Schuetz · Prize money: $7,500
LOCAL YOKELS BBQ won Grand Champion at the Smokin' for Garrett on October 6, 2023 in Mt. Carmel, IL at 315 Market Street, scoring 711.9656 in a field of 26 teams. SmokinGhost BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 702.2400. Category winners: Chicken — JaBs BBQ (178.2972); Pork Ribs — LOCAL YOKELS BBQ (180.0000); Pork — LOCAL YOKELS BBQ (180.0000); Brisket — UP FROM THE PITS BBQ (178.8572). The Backyard Series standings were won by Shmack Q with 526.2744. This is the 4th of 4 editions of this contest on record; the 2022 edition was won by Triple H BBQ.
The contest at a glance (read off the scored boards)
How the field scored
Overall totals, every team on the board — tall stacks are where the pack sat.
593.57
median 677.01
711.97 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 178.30
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 180 🔥
- Master Series — Pork 180 🔥
- Master Series — Brisket 178.86
- Backyard Series — Chicken 173.11
- Backyard Series — Pork Ribs 174.86
- Backyard Series — Pork 179.44
119.76
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2016 to 2023 — this edition picked out.
Entries
26
7 judged meats
Top score
711.9656
Winning margin
9.7256
GC over RC
Field average
667.29
593.57711.97
median 677.01 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork
2.2972 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
689.0628
593.57711.97
10th place overall
Field spread
118.3996
winner to last place
Prize money
$7,500
on the line
Double threats
8
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 2%
beats 98% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
27%
12 of 45 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.49 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,589
avg power rating going in · stronger than 70% of contests
Storylines (8 found in this contest's numbers)
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
An upset on the books
30-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 70 times in 100
LOCAL YOKELS BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 30-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1776
- top seed 1926
A statement win
9.7256
points clear of the field
Wider than 86% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The champion won by 9.7256 points — a wider margin than 86% of championships in the data.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 18 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Chicken places 6–7: UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ and JANKY LEG BBQ tied on 173.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 7–8: JANKY LEG BBQ and MESS-IN-A ROUND BBQ tied on 173.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 9–10: HEFTY LEFTY BBQ and SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS tied on 173.1084 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Master Series — Chicken 6–7 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 9–10 · tie
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 5–6 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
LOCAL YOKELS BBQ won Pork Ribs, Pork — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 1st
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
LOCAL YOKELS BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was brisket at 5th.
- Chicken 4th
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 5th
A contest record in pork ribs
180.0000
best pork ribs ever cooked here
LOCAL YOKELS BBQ turned in 180.0000 in pork ribs — past the 178.8800 that had stood across 3 earlier editions.
- old best 178.8800
- across 3 past editions
A perfect score on the table
2
perfect 180s
2 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- LOCAL YOKELS BBQ · Pork
- LOCAL YOKELS BBQ · Pork Ribs
Score curves (score by finishing position — steep cliffs mean a spread field, flat lines a knife fight)
Category showdown (top / average / median score per meat)
Score distribution
Biggest rating movers (power-rating points won and lost at this contest)
Did form hold? (pre-contest rating vs overall finish — ratings called it if the dots climb to the right)
This contest over the years full contest page →
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 2016 | Boonville, IN | 133 E Degonia RD | 35 | 698.2976 | ONE2BBQ | UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ |
| Oct 22, 2021 | Boonville, IN | 2144 New Harmony RD | 27 | 692.5028 | Old Fashioned Butcher Shoppe | HOT COLE'S BBQ |
| Sep 16, 2022 | Mt. Carmel, IL | 434 Market Street | 27 | 698.8116 | Triple H BBQ | Pooh Bear BBQ |
| Oct 6, 2023 ← this one | Mt. Carmel, IL | 315 Market Street | 26 | 711.9656 | Local Yokels | SmokinGhost BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 178.2972 | 174.2744 | 173.1084 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 180 | 174.2628 | 170.8228 |
| Master Series — Pork | 180 | 177.7028 | 173.1200 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 178.8572 | 176.5600 | 170.8228 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 173.1084 | 166.8228 | 161.6800 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 174.8572 | 168.5484 | 148.5144 |
| Backyard Series — Pork | 179.4400 | 165.1200 | 155.3484 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
26 entries · top 711.9656 · median 677.0114
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LOCAL YOKELS BBQ | |
| 2 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 3 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 4 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 5 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 6 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 7 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 8 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 9 | BONPAS BOTTOMS BBQ | |
| 10 | WEQ4U | |
| 11 | BEACHDOGS 502 BBQ | |
| 12 | SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS | |
| 13 | MESS-IN-A ROUND BBQ | |
| 14 | Carol Lou's Smokehouse | |
| 15 | MEAN MOE'S BBQ | |
| 16 | Hickory Pit Stop | |
| 17 | UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 18 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS, KY | |
| 19 | Bottom Barrel BBQ | |
| 20 | Pear Head BBQ | |
| 21 | Secondhand Smoke | |
| 22 | RTQUE | |
| 23 | A&B BBQ | |
| 24 | W.Oink.C | |
| 25 | Mac Daddy's BBQ | |
| 26 | The River BBQ Team |
Chicken
26 entries · top 178.2972 · median 169.1086
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 2 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 3 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 4 | LOCAL YOKELS BBQ | |
| 5 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 6 | UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 7 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 8 | MESS-IN-A ROUND BBQ | |
| 9 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 10 | SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS | |
| 11 | Carol Lou's Smokehouse | |
| 12 | MEAN MOE'S BBQ | |
| 13 | BEACHDOGS 502 BBQ | |
| 14 | Bottom Barrel BBQ | |
| 15 | BONPAS BOTTOMS BBQ | |
| 16 | WEQ4U | |
| 17 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 18 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS, KY | |
| 19 | RTQUE | |
| 20 | Pear Head BBQ | |
| 21 | Hickory Pit Stop | |
| 22 | The River BBQ Team | |
| 23 | Secondhand Smoke | |
| 24 | Mac Daddy's BBQ | |
| 25 | A&B BBQ | |
| 26 | W.Oink.C |
Pork Ribs
26 entries · top 180 · median 168.5256 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LOCAL YOKELS BBQ | |
| 2 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 3 | WEQ4U | |
| 4 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 5 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 6 | Hickory Pit Stop | |
| 7 | BEACHDOGS 502 BBQ | |
| 8 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 9 | BONPAS BOTTOMS BBQ | |
| 10 | SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS | |
| 11 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 12 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 13 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 14 | MEAN MOE'S BBQ | |
| 15 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS, KY | |
| 16 | UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 17 | Secondhand Smoke | |
| 18 | Carol Lou's Smokehouse | |
| 19 | Bottom Barrel BBQ | |
| 20 | MESS-IN-A ROUND BBQ | |
| 21 | Mac Daddy's BBQ | |
| 22 | Pear Head BBQ | |
| 23 | W.Oink.C | |
| 24 | RTQUE | |
| 25 | A&B BBQ | |
| 26 | The River BBQ Team |
Pork
26 entries · top 180 · median 170.8228 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LOCAL YOKELS BBQ | |
| 2 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 3 | BONPAS BOTTOMS BBQ | |
| 4 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 5 | MEAN MOE'S BBQ | |
| 6 | MESS-IN-A ROUND BBQ | |
| 7 | WEQ4U | |
| 8 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 9 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 10 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 11 | Carol Lou's Smokehouse | |
| 12 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 13 | Hickory Pit Stop | |
| 14 | BEACHDOGS 502 BBQ | |
| 15 | SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS | |
| 16 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 17 | UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 18 | RTQUE | |
| 19 | Secondhand Smoke | |
| 20 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS, KY | |
| 21 | Pear Head BBQ | |
| 22 | W.Oink.C | |
| 23 | Bottom Barrel BBQ | |
| 24 | A&B BBQ | |
| 25 | Mac Daddy's BBQ | |
| 26 | The River BBQ Team |
Brisket
26 entries · top 178.8572 · median 166.5314
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 2 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 3 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 4 | BEACHDOGS 502 BBQ | |
| 5 | LOCAL YOKELS BBQ | |
| 6 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 7 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 8 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 9 | BONPAS BOTTOMS BBQ | |
| 10 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS, KY | |
| 11 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 12 | MESS-IN-A ROUND BBQ | |
| 13 | WEQ4U | |
| 14 | SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS | |
| 15 | Hickory Pit Stop | |
| 16 | Carol Lou's Smokehouse | |
| 17 | UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 18 | A&B BBQ | |
| 19 | Pear Head BBQ | |
| 20 | Bottom Barrel BBQ | |
| 21 | W.Oink.C | |
| 22 | MEAN MOE'S BBQ | |
| 23 | RTQUE | |
| 24 | Secondhand Smoke | |
| 25 | Mac Daddy's BBQ | |
| 26 | The River BBQ Team |
Backyard Series
Overall
11 entries · top 526.2744 · median 497.6116 · out of 540, not the usual 360
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shmack Q | |
| 2 | Wink's BBQ | |
| 3 | RUBY CREEK BBQ | |
| 4 | Truck n' Sauced | |
| 5 | SmoQued On Main St | |
| 6 | Tojos Smoke Me Tender | |
| 7 | Side Track BBQ | |
| 8 | Smoking Hot Ash | |
| 9 | Rub Em Right | |
| 10 | Legendary Smokers | |
| 11 | Killing Time Smoking Swine |
Chicken
11 entries · top 173.1084 · median 166.2516
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RUBY CREEK BBQ | |
| 2 | Shmack Q | |
| 3 | Wink's BBQ | |
| 4 | Truck n' Sauced | |
| 5 | SmoQued On Main St | |
| 6 | Tojos Smoke Me Tender | |
| 7 | Side Track BBQ | |
| 8 | Legendary Smokers | |
| 9 | Smoking Hot Ash | |
| 10 | Killing Time Smoking Swine | |
| 11 | Rub Em Right |
Pork Ribs
11 entries · top 174.8572 · median 166.2744
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shmack Q | |
| 2 | RUBY CREEK BBQ | |
| 3 | Side Track BBQ | |
| 4 | Wink's BBQ | |
| 5 | Truck n' Sauced | |
| 6 | SmoQued On Main St | |
| 7 | Tojos Smoke Me Tender | |
| 8 | Rub Em Right | |
| 9 | Smoking Hot Ash | |
| 10 | Legendary Smokers | |
| 11 | Killing Time Smoking Swine |
Pork
11 entries · top 179.4400 · median 164.5828
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shmack Q | |
| 2 | Tojos Smoke Me Tender | |
| 3 | Smoking Hot Ash | |
| 4 | Wink's BBQ | |
| 5 | Truck n' Sauced | |
| 6 | Killing Time Smoking Swine | |
| 7 | SmoQued On Main St | |
| 8 | Rub Em Right | |
| 9 | Legendary Smokers | |
| 10 | RUBY CREEK BBQ | |
| 11 | Side Track BBQ |