Nov 17–18, 2023 · Plant City, FL · 📍 1500 S. Park Road · State championship
Reps: Carolyn Wells, Mike Garretson · Prize money: $17,700
SMOKIN' AIN'T EZ won Grand Champion at the Plant City Pig Jam on November 17, 2023 in Plant City, FL at 1500 S. Park Road, scoring 695.3944 in a field of 25 teams. Rum Runners took Reserve Grand Champion with 689.1204. Category winners: Chicken — SMOKIN' AIN'T EZ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — TILLMAN'S BBQ (180.0000); Pork — SMOKIN' AIN'T EZ (174.8572); Brisket — SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA (173.1316). The Backyard Series standings were won by Ramblin Fork BBQ Co with 347.3828. This is the 7th of 10 editions of this contest on record; the 2022 edition was won by Fantasy Q; the next was held in 2024.
Overall totals, every team on the board — tall stacks are where the pack sat.
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2025 — this edition picked out.
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 73 times in 100
Smokin' Ain't EZ came in rated below the field's top team, BAD AZZ MULE BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 27-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
This was Smokin' Ain't EZ's first Grand Championship in the data — it arrived at their 21st tracked contest.
Rum Runners finished 2nd overall in the first contest the data has them cooking at all.
Master Series — Chicken places 8–9: Drunkin Brothers and Butts on the Barbie tied on 167.3944 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork Ribs places 4–5: BAD AZZ MULE BBQ and Rum Runners tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork places 5–6: Matty B's BBQ and HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS tied on 173.1084 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
SMOKIN' AIN'T EZ won Chicken, Pork — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
SMOKIN' AIN'T EZ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was brisket at 10th.
TILLMAN'S BBQ turned in 180.0000 in pork ribs — past the 178.8572 that had stood across 6 earlier editions.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: SWAMP BOYS (won 2016), Fantasy Q (won 2022).
2 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 22, 2013 | Plant City, FL | Plant City, FL | 53 | 678.7772 | WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ |
| Nov 21, 2014 | Plant City, FL | Plant City, FL 33563 | 39 | 681.1884 | HOT WACHULA'S | CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE BBQ |
| Nov 18, 2016 | Plant City, FL | 1500 South Park Rd | 38 | 696.5028 | SWAMP BOYS | UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ |
| Nov 22, 2019 | Plant City, FL | 1500 S Park RD | 39 | 701.6912 | Pig-Chicka-Cow-Cow | SWAMP BOYS |
| Nov 19, 2021 | Plant City, FL | Plant City, FL 33565 | 37 | 695.9888 | King's BBQ | CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. |
| Nov 18, 2022 | Plant City, FL | 1500 S. Park Road | 25 | 695.3716 | Fantasy Q | KEEPIN IT SMOKIN BBQ |
| Nov 17, 2023 ← this one | Plant City, FL | 1500 S. Park Road | 25 | 695.3944 | Smokin' Ain't EZ | Rum Runners |
| Nov 22, 2024 | Plant City, FL | 1500 S. Park Road | 26 | 703.9428 | Kings BBQ Team | Shiggin aint easy |
| Nov 21, 2025 | Plant City, FL | 1500 S. Park Road | 31 | 713.1316 | TILLMAN'S BBQ | Kings BBQ Team |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Plant City, FL | — | — | — | — | — |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 180 | 169.6800 | 165.1544 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 180 | 175.4172 | 169.6800 |
| Master Series — Pork | 174.8572 | 173.1084 | 170.2744 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 173.1316 | 170.3200 | 166.8228 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 170.8228 | 167.3944 | 162.8916 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 176.5600 | 166.2628 | 163.9428 |
| Ancillary — Pork | 170.8228 | 162.2516 | 159.3944 |
| Ancillary — Brisket | 168.5256 | 162.2284 | 157.1084 |
25 entries · top 695.3944 · median 660.4348
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN' AIN'T EZ | |
| 2 | Rum Runners | |
| 3 | TILLMAN'S BBQ | |
| 4 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 5 | Mad Dog BBQ | |
| 6 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS | |
| 7 | KEEPIN IT SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 8 | BAD AZZ MULE BBQ | |
| 9 | Matty B's BBQ | |
| 10 | One Bite BBQ | |
| 11 | Cold Beer BBQ | |
| 12 | K & E's Little Smokers | |
| 13 | Butts on the Barbie | |
| 14 | Fantasy Q | |
| 15 | BBQmyway | |
| 16 | Slappin'Butt BBQ | |
| 17 | SWAMP BOYS | |
| 18 | Bailout BBQ | |
| 19 | SMOKIN ACES BBQ - FL | |
| 20 | Drunkin Brothers | |
| 21 | SMOKIN' BEACH BarbeQue | |
| 22 | Poppell Insurance BBQ Team | |
| 23 | Tarheel Cookers | |
| 24 | Pig In or Pig Out | |
| 25 | Porkganic BBQ |
25 entries · top 180 · median 165.0972 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN' AIN'T EZ | |
| 2 | Matty B's BBQ | |
| 3 | Rum Runners | |
| 4 | One Bite BBQ | |
| 5 | Cold Beer BBQ | |
| 6 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS | |
| 7 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 8 | Drunkin Brothers | |
| 9 | Butts on the Barbie | |
| 10 | Mad Dog BBQ | |
| 11 | Slappin'Butt BBQ | |
| 12 | K & E's Little Smokers | |
| 13 | KEEPIN IT SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 14 | Poppell Insurance BBQ Team | |
| 15 | SWAMP BOYS | |
| 16 | TILLMAN'S BBQ | |
| 17 | BAD AZZ MULE BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKIN' BEACH BarbeQue | |
| 19 | Pig In or Pig Out | |
| 20 | Tarheel Cookers | |
| 21 | Porkganic BBQ | |
| 22 | SMOKIN ACES BBQ - FL | |
| 23 | BBQmyway | |
| 24 | Fantasy Q | |
| 25 | Bailout BBQ |
25 entries · top 180 · median 166.2632 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TILLMAN'S BBQ | |
| 2 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 3 | Mad Dog BBQ | |
| 4 | BAD AZZ MULE BBQ | |
| 5 | Rum Runners | |
| 6 | SMOKIN' AIN'T EZ | |
| 7 | Fantasy Q | |
| 8 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS | |
| 9 | BBQmyway | |
| 10 | KEEPIN IT SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 11 | One Bite BBQ | |
| 12 | Drunkin Brothers | |
| 13 | Butts on the Barbie | |
| 14 | Matty B's BBQ | |
| 15 | K & E's Little Smokers | |
| 16 | Cold Beer BBQ | |
| 17 | Bailout BBQ | |
| 18 | Poppell Insurance BBQ Team | |
| 19 | SMOKIN ACES BBQ - FL | |
| 20 | SWAMP BOYS | |
| 21 | Tarheel Cookers | |
| 22 | SMOKIN' BEACH BarbeQue | |
| 23 | Pig In or Pig Out | |
| 24 | Porkganic BBQ | |
| 25 | Slappin'Butt BBQ |
25 entries · top 174.8572 · median 169.6684
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN' AIN'T EZ | |
| 2 | Rum Runners | |
| 3 | K & E's Little Smokers | |
| 4 | Bailout BBQ | |
| 5 | Matty B's BBQ | |
| 6 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS | |
| 7 | TILLMAN'S BBQ | |
| 8 | BAD AZZ MULE BBQ | |
| 9 | Tarheel Cookers | |
| 10 | KEEPIN IT SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 11 | Cold Beer BBQ | |
| 12 | One Bite BBQ | |
| 13 | SMOKIN' BEACH BarbeQue | |
| 14 | Mad Dog BBQ | |
| 15 | Slappin'Butt BBQ | |
| 16 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 17 | SWAMP BOYS | |
| 18 | SMOKIN ACES BBQ - FL | |
| 19 | Butts on the Barbie | |
| 20 | BBQmyway | |
| 21 | Fantasy Q | |
| 22 | Drunkin Brothers | |
| 23 | Porkganic BBQ | |
| 24 | Pig In or Pig Out | |
| 25 | Poppell Insurance BBQ Team |
25 entries · top 173.1316 · median 163.9660
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SWEET SMOKE Q FLORIDA | |
| 2 | Mad Dog BBQ | |
| 3 | KEEPIN IT SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 4 | TILLMAN'S BBQ | |
| 5 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS | |
| 6 | Cold Beer BBQ | |
| 7 | BAD AZZ MULE BBQ | |
| 8 | Fantasy Q | |
| 9 | Rum Runners | |
| 10 | SMOKIN' AIN'T EZ | |
| 11 | Slappin'Butt BBQ | |
| 12 | One Bite BBQ | |
| 13 | Poppell Insurance BBQ Team | |
| 14 | BBQmyway | |
| 15 | SMOKIN ACES BBQ - FL | |
| 16 | Butts on the Barbie | |
| 17 | Pig In or Pig Out | |
| 18 | Matty B's BBQ | |
| 19 | SWAMP BOYS | |
| 20 | K & E's Little Smokers | |
| 21 | SMOKIN' BEACH BarbeQue | |
| 22 | Bailout BBQ | |
| 23 | Porkganic BBQ | |
| 24 | Drunkin Brothers | |
| 25 | Tarheel Cookers |
22 entries · top 347.3828 · median 321.9314
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ramblin Fork BBQ Co | |
| 2 | VETERAN PORK PULLERS | |
| 3 | Nuts & Butts | |
| 4 | BIG RED BBQ | |
| 5 | Pig Timers | |
| 6 | Grease Monkey BBQ | |
| 7 | Uncle G's BBQ | |
| 8 | Belly Bustin Bistro | |
| 9 | Brisket and Burrbon | |
| 10 | Pipkin Creek BBQ | |
| 11 | Willie's Smokehouse | |
| 12 | 2 Live Que | |
| 13 | JP BBQ and Catering | |
| 14 | Cool Guys with Hot Grills | |
| 15 | Blue Smoke BBQ | |
| 16 | Evans Family Ranch | |
| 17 | Grande Oaks BBQ | |
| 18 | Love Meat Tender | |
| 19 | K-Dubs BBQ | |
| 20 | Crackalacken | |
| 21 | KeiserQ | |
| 22 | Dirt Road Smokers |
22 entries · top 170.8228 · median 161.9772
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | VETERAN PORK PULLERS | |
| 2 | Ramblin Fork BBQ Co | |
| 3 | Belly Bustin Bistro | |
| 4 | Pig Timers | |
| 5 | Nuts & Butts | |
| 6 | Grease Monkey BBQ | |
| 7 | Pipkin Creek BBQ | |
| 8 | Brisket and Burrbon | |
| 9 | Grande Oaks BBQ | |
| 10 | Crackalacken | |
| 11 | BIG RED BBQ | |
| 12 | Uncle G's BBQ | |
| 13 | JP BBQ and Catering | |
| 14 | 2 Live Que | |
| 15 | Willie's Smokehouse | |
| 16 | Love Meat Tender | |
| 17 | Evans Family Ranch | |
| 18 | K-Dubs BBQ | |
| 19 | KeiserQ | |
| 20 | Cool Guys with Hot Grills | |
| 21 | Blue Smoke BBQ | |
| 22 | Dirt Road Smokers |
22 entries · top 176.5600 · median 160.5258
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ramblin Fork BBQ Co | |
| 2 | BIG RED BBQ | |
| 3 | Nuts & Butts | |
| 4 | Blue Smoke BBQ | |
| 5 | VETERAN PORK PULLERS | |
| 6 | Cool Guys with Hot Grills | |
| 7 | Uncle G's BBQ | |
| 8 | Pig Timers | |
| 9 | Grease Monkey BBQ | |
| 10 | Willie's Smokehouse | |
| 11 | Brisket and Burrbon | |
| 12 | Pipkin Creek BBQ | |
| 13 | 2 Live Que | |
| 14 | Evans Family Ranch | |
| 15 | JP BBQ and Catering | |
| 16 | Belly Bustin Bistro | |
| 17 | Love Meat Tender | |
| 18 | K-Dubs BBQ | |
| 19 | Grande Oaks BBQ | |
| 20 | KeiserQ | |
| 21 | Crackalacken | |
| 22 | Dirt Road Smokers |
21 entries · top 170.8228 · median 158.2400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ramblin Fork BBQ Co | |
| 2 | Belly Bustin Bistro | |
| 3 | Willie's Smokehouse | |
| 4 | Pig Timers | |
| 5 | Grease Monkey BBQ | |
| 6 | BIG RED BBQ | |
| 7 | Uncle G's BBQ | |
| 8 | K-Dubs BBQ | |
| 9 | Brisket and Burrbon | |
| 10 | Grande Oaks BBQ | |
| 11 | Nuts & Butts | |
| 12 | Dirt Road Smokers | |
| 13 | VETERAN PORK PULLERS | |
| 14 | Cool Guys with Hot Grills | |
| 15 | Evans Family Ranch | |
| 16 | Pipkin Creek BBQ | |
| 17 | JP BBQ and Catering | |
| 18 | Blue Smoke BBQ | |
| 19 | KeiserQ | |
| 20 | Love Meat Tender | |
| 21 | Crackalacken |
22 entries · top 168.5256 · median 151.4056
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | K-Dubs BBQ | |
| 2 | Willie's Smokehouse | |
| 3 | Ramblin Fork BBQ Co | |
| 4 | Dirt Road Smokers | |
| 5 | Pig Timers | |
| 6 | KeiserQ | |
| 7 | Grease Monkey BBQ | |
| 8 | 2 Live Que | |
| 9 | VETERAN PORK PULLERS | |
| 10 | JP BBQ and Catering | |
| 11 | Love Meat Tender | |
| 12 | Uncle G's BBQ | |
| 13 | Brisket and Burrbon | |
| 14 | Belly Bustin Bistro | |
| 15 | Nuts & Butts | |
| 16 | BIG RED BBQ | |
| 17 | Grande Oaks BBQ | |
| 18 | Cool Guys with Hot Grills | |
| 19 | Pipkin Creek BBQ | |
| 20 | Blue Smoke BBQ | |
| 21 | Evans Family Ranch | |
| 22 | Crackalacken |