A new contest record
708.5372
highest overall ever cooked here
708.5372 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 698.7884 MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS set in 2022.
- old record 698.7884
- set 2022 by MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS
Atlanta BBQ Store Classic 2023
Nov 17–18, 2023 · Cumming, GA · 📍 235 Castleberry Rd · State championship
Reps: Julie Cook, Rachel Harper, Rusty Cook, Wayne Harper · Prize money: $9,000
TRIPLE H BBQ won Grand Champion at the Atlanta BBQ Store Classic on November 17, 2023 in Cumming, GA at 235 Castleberry Rd, scoring 708.5372 in a field of 60 teams. BAD ROOSTER BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 700.5256. Category winners: Chicken — TRIPLE H BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — Smoke Central BBQ (180.0000); Pork — Blue Smoke Q (178.8572); Brisket — TRIPLE H BBQ (180.0000). The Backyard Series standings were won by RUNNING STYLE BBQ - GA with 353.7028. This is the 3rd of 5 editions of this contest on record; the 2022 edition was won by MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS; the next was held in 2024.
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.
595.13
median 683.32
708.54 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 180 🔥
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 180 🔥
- Master Series — Pork 178.86
- Master Series — Brisket 180 🔥
- Backyard Series — Chicken 179.44
- Backyard Series — Pork Ribs 176.57
- Ancillary — Pork 177.71
133.52
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2022 to 2025 — this edition picked out.
Entries
60
7 judged meats · 3 ancillary
Top score
708.5372
Winning margin
8.0116
GC over RC
Field average
678.25
595.13708.54
median 683.32 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
4 🔥
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
1.1544 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
693.6456
595.13708.54
10th place overall
Field spread
113.4056
winner to last place
Prize money
$9,000
on the line
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 6%
beats 94% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
52%
42 of 81 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.41 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,597
avg power rating going in · stronger than 76% of contests
Storylines (10 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.
A day of perfect scores
4
perfect 180s
4 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- TRIPLE H BBQ · Brisket
- TRIPLE H BBQ · Chicken
- Smoke Central BBQ · Pork Ribs
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 5 tracked editions
Triple H BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 5 tracked editions.
- 2022
- 2025
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 25 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Chicken places 2–3: SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS and Bourbon & Blues BBQ tied on 178.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 4–5: OFF THE CHAIN and ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 9–10: GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ and MAYA JANE BBQ CO. tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Master Series — Chicken 2–3 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 4–5 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 9–10 · tie
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 1–2 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
TRIPLE H BBQ won Chicken, Brisket — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
- Chicken 1st
- Brisket 1st
How the title was won
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
TRIPLE H BBQ took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was pork at 29th.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 4th
- Pork 29th
- Brisket 1st
A contest record in brisket
180.0000
best brisket ever cooked here
TRIPLE H BBQ turned in 180.0000 in brisket — past the 176.5600 that had stood across 2 earlier editions.
- old best 176.5600
- across 2 past editions
Back to defend
2
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Triple H BBQ (won 2022), MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS (won 2022).
- Triple H BBQ · 2022
- MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS · 2022
One of the big ones
60
teams on the grounds
Bigger than 92% of the 5,462 contests in the data
60 teams — bigger than 92% of the 5,462 contests in the data.
The biggest field yet
60
teams — a contest high
This contest usually draws about 45 teams
60 teams is the deepest field this contest has drawn in the data, against a typical 45.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 17, 2022 | Cumming, GA | 235 Castleberry Rd | 33 | 176.5716 | Triple H BBQ | — |
| Nov 18, 2022 | Cumming, GA | 235 Castleberry Rd | 57 | 698.7884 | MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS | Organizer Portal |
| Nov 17, 2023 ← this one | Cumming, GA | 235 Castleberry Rd | 60 | 708.5372 | Triple H | BAD ROOSTER BBQ |
| Nov 15, 2024 | Cuming, GA | Cumming Fairgrounds | 58 | 708.5488 | Rooters-N-Tooters TN | Glamping Grillers |
| Nov 14, 2025 | Cumming, GA | Cumming Fairgrounds | 56 | 711.9888 | Triple H BBQ | BAD ROOSTER BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 180 | 177.7028 | 175.4172 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 180 | 177.7028 | 176 |
| Master Series — Pork | 178.8572 | 176.5828 | 175.4056 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 180 | 177.7028 | 174.2628 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 179.4400 | 176.5600 | 169.6800 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 176.5716 | 175.4172 | 171.9656 |
| Ancillary — Pork | 177.7144 | 175.4056 | 168.5256 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
60 entries · top 708.5372 · median 683.3200
Chicken
60 entries · top 180 · median 170.8286 · 🔥 perfect 180
Pork Ribs
60 entries · top 180 · median 171.4000 · 🔥 perfect 180
Pork
60 entries · top 178.8572 · median 169.4000
Brisket
60 entries · top 180 · median 169.9828 · 🔥 perfect 180
Backyard Series
Overall
32 entries · top 353.7028 · median 331.3314
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RUNNING STYLE BBQ - GA | |
| 2 | B.G.Q. | |
| 3 | NORALA BBQ TEAM | |
| 4 | Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | |
| 5 | 4 Paws BBQ | |
| 6 | Dogpatch Q | |
| 7 | SLATER HOUSE BBQ | |
| 8 | Steak Princess BBQ | |
| 9 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 10 | Bad Brad's BBQ | |
| 11 | Scott’s Smoke Shack BBQ | |
| 12 | Bentley Que | |
| 13 | SOUTHERN COMFORT BBQ | |
| 14 | Cluckin’ Crazy BBQ | |
| 15 | HUNTER'S HOT ASH BBQ | |
| 16 | Southern Life BBQ | |
| 17 | Hey Bruce BBQ | |
| 18 | BIG BAKER'S BBQ | |
| 19 | Hutch BBQ | |
| 20 | Daddy Blue's BBQ | |
| 21 | Sunday Smokies | |
| 22 | SMOKIN' WITH POPS BBQ TEAM | |
| 23 | Free Smokes BBQ | |
| 24 | Vegan Recovery Camp | |
| 25 | 3D BBQ | |
| 26 | SmoQued On Main St | |
| 27 | Smoking N Joking BBQ | |
| 28 | Pigg'n Out BBQ Team | |
| 29 | STANK BUTT BBQ | |
| 30 | Tru Grit BBQ | |
| 31 | Smoke On The Porker | |
| 32 | PORK UR FORK BBQ |
Chicken
32 entries · top 179.4400 · median 167.4000
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | |
| 2 | Scott’s Smoke Shack BBQ | |
| 3 | B.G.Q. | |
| 4 | RUNNING STYLE BBQ - GA | |
| 5 | NORALA BBQ TEAM | |
| 6 | SMOKIN' WITH POPS BBQ TEAM | |
| 7 | 4 Paws BBQ | |
| 8 | Hutch BBQ | |
| 9 | Hey Bruce BBQ | |
| 10 | Sunday Smokies | |
| 11 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 12 | HUNTER'S HOT ASH BBQ | |
| 13 | Southern Life BBQ | |
| 14 | Bentley Que | |
| 15 | Dogpatch Q | |
| 16 | Steak Princess BBQ | |
| 17 | Cluckin’ Crazy BBQ | |
| 18 | SLATER HOUSE BBQ | |
| 19 | BIG BAKER'S BBQ | |
| 20 | Bad Brad's BBQ | |
| 21 | Daddy Blue's BBQ | |
| 22 | SOUTHERN COMFORT BBQ | |
| 23 | Smoking N Joking BBQ | |
| 24 | Tru Grit BBQ | |
| 25 | 3D BBQ | |
| 26 | SmoQued On Main St | |
| 27 | Vegan Recovery Camp | |
| 28 | Free Smokes BBQ | |
| 29 | Smoke On The Porker | |
| 30 | Pigg'n Out BBQ Team | |
| 31 | STANK BUTT BBQ | |
| 32 | PORK UR FORK BBQ |
Pork Ribs
32 entries · top 176.5716 · median 164.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SOUTHERN COMFORT BBQ | |
| 2 | RUNNING STYLE BBQ - GA | |
| 3 | SLATER HOUSE BBQ | |
| 4 | Dogpatch Q | |
| 5 | Steak Princess BBQ | |
| 6 | Bad Brad's BBQ | |
| 7 | B.G.Q. | |
| 8 | NORALA BBQ TEAM | |
| 9 | 4 Paws BBQ | |
| 10 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 11 | Bentley Que | |
| 12 | Free Smokes BBQ | |
| 13 | Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | |
| 14 | Cluckin’ Crazy BBQ | |
| 15 | STANK BUTT BBQ | |
| 16 | Daddy Blue's BBQ | |
| 17 | HUNTER'S HOT ASH BBQ | |
| 18 | Pigg'n Out BBQ Team | |
| 19 | BIG BAKER'S BBQ | |
| 20 | Southern Life BBQ | |
| 21 | Hey Bruce BBQ | |
| 22 | Vegan Recovery Camp | |
| 23 | Scott’s Smoke Shack BBQ | |
| 24 | SmoQued On Main St | |
| 25 | 3D BBQ | |
| 26 | Hutch BBQ | |
| 27 | Sunday Smokies | |
| 28 | Smoking N Joking BBQ | |
| 29 | Smoke On The Porker | |
| 30 | SMOKIN' WITH POPS BBQ TEAM | |
| 31 | Tru Grit BBQ | |
| 32 | PORK UR FORK BBQ |
Ancillary
Pork
31 entries · top 177.7144 · median 163.9428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HUNTER'S HOT ASH BBQ | |
| 2 | Hey Bruce BBQ | |
| 3 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 4 | RUNNING STYLE BBQ - GA | |
| 5 | 4 Paws BBQ | |
| 6 | SLATER HOUSE BBQ | |
| 7 | Steak Princess BBQ | |
| 8 | 3D BBQ | |
| 9 | SmoQued On Main St | |
| 10 | Free Smokes BBQ | |
| 11 | BIG BAKER'S BBQ | |
| 12 | Cluckin’ Crazy BBQ | |
| 13 | Bentley Que | |
| 14 | Southern Life BBQ | |
| 15 | Bad Brad's BBQ | |
| 16 | Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | |
| 17 | NORALA BBQ TEAM | |
| 18 | SMOKIN' WITH POPS BBQ TEAM | |
| 19 | Hutch BBQ | |
| 20 | Scott’s Smoke Shack BBQ | |
| 21 | Dogpatch Q | |
| 22 | Tru Grit BBQ | |
| 23 | B.G.Q. | |
| 24 | SOUTHERN COMFORT BBQ | |
| 25 | Smoking N Joking BBQ | |
| 26 | Pigg'n Out BBQ Team | |
| 27 | STANK BUTT BBQ | |
| 28 | Smoke On The Porker | |
| 29 | Sunday Smokies | |
| 30 | Vegan Recovery Camp | |
| 31 | Daddy Blue's BBQ |
Ancillary categories
Run by the organizers alongside the sanctioned contest. These are judged on their own terms and do not count toward the overall score, so they're kept out of the meat stats above.
Ancillary — Dessert
29 entries · top 180 · median 172.5600 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | One Eyed Pig BBQ | |
| 2 | Wiggle Butts BBQ | |
| 3 | Smoke Central BBQ | |
| 4 | Optimus Swine | |
| 5 | SLATER HOUSE BBQ | |
| 6 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 7 | Backwoods BBQ | |
| 8 | Cluckin’ Crazy BBQ | |
| 9 | BIG BAKER'S BBQ | |
| 10 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 11 | OFF THE RACK BBQ | |
| 12 | Steak Princess BBQ | |
| 13 | Peckerwood Country Club | |
| 14 | Slinging Meat | |
| 15 | HUNTER'S HOT ASH BBQ | |
| 16 | Willingham's | |
| 17 | Backwatters Distilling | |
| 18 | Smoking N Joking BBQ | |
| 19 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 20 | Nice Rack BBQ | |
| 21 | Bentley Que | |
| 22 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 23 | Ham Squad | |
| 24 | Vegan Recovery Camp | |
| 25 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 26 | POOR BOYS BBQ | |
| 27 | SMOKIN' WITH POPS BBQ TEAM | |
| 28 | Free Smokes BBQ | |
| 29 | PORK UR FORK BBQ |
Kids-Q — Kids Que 11-15 Year Olds
6 entries · top 177.1544 · median 174.2628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DINO-Q | |
| 2 | Emily Nicole Faust | |
| 3 | Constance Hart | |
| 4 | Ryan Machovec | |
| 5 | Harleigh Smith | |
| 6 | COLTON HEYEN |
Kids-Q — Kids Que 6-10 Year Olds
5 entries · top 176.5944 · median 172.5600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turner Bemardon | |
| 2 | Colton Nade | |
| 3 | Matthew Osman | |
| 4 | COOPER HEYEN | |
| 5 | Sweet Spicy Crew |