A new contest record
706.8460
highest overall ever cooked here
706.8460 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 702.8456 Gettin'Based set in 2023.
- old record 702.8456
- set 2023 by Gettin'Based
Cedar Fest BBQ Cookoff 2024
Apr 5–6, 2024 · Cedar Park, TX · 📍 Elizabeth Wilburn Park Cedar Park · State championship
Reps: Bob McKinnon, Debbie Spray, Scott Spray, Terri McKinnon · Prize money: $15,000
Sure Shot BBQ won Grand Champion at the Cedar Fest BBQ Cookoff on April 5, 2024 in Cedar Park, TX at Elizabeth Wilburn Park Cedar Park, scoring 706.8460 in a field of 40 teams. Texas Chrome Hero's took Reserve Grand Champion with 694.8916. Category winners: Chicken — Sure Shot BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — HOLLOW Q (178.8572); Pork — Texas Chrome Hero's (178.2972); Brisket — Sure Shot BBQ (178.2972). This is the 2nd of 3 editions of this contest on record; the 2023 edition was won by Gettin'Based; the next was held in 2025.
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.
503.35
median 650.46
706.85 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 180 🔥
- Pork Ribs 178.86
- Pork 178.30
- Brisket 178.30
20
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2023 to 2025 — this edition picked out.
Entries
40
4 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
706.8460
Winning margin
11.9544
GC over RC
Field average
645.84
503.35706.85
median 650.46 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
3.4400 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
683.3028
503.35706.85
10th place overall
Field spread
203.4976
winner to last place
Prize money
$15,000
on the line
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 9%
beats 91% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
28%
16 of 57 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.4 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,526
avg power rating going in · stronger than 18% of contests
Storylines (9 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
23-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 77 times in 100
Sure Shot BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, Texas Smoke Whisperer, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 23-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1551
- top seed 1764
A first Grand Championship
8
tracked contests to get there
This was Sure Shot BBQ's first Grand Championship in the data — it arrived at their 8th tracked contest.
A statement win
11.9544
points clear of the field
Wider than 92% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The champion won by 11.9544 points — a wider margin than 92% of championships in the data.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 9 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 5–6: THE REPUBLIC OF 'QUE and Crossed Rifles BBQ tied on 171.9656 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 7–8: The Chopping Block and Quality in Smoke tied on 171.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 9–10: Barton BBQ and Fire Oak Distillery & BBQ tied on 170.2744 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 5–6 · tie
- Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Chicken 9–10 · tie
- Pork Ribs 5–6 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
Sure Shot 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
Sure Shot BBQ took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was pork at 12th.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 3rd
- Pork 12th
- Brisket 1st
A contest record in chicken
180.0000
best chicken ever cooked here
Sure Shot BBQ turned in 180.0000 in chicken — past the 178.8572 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 178.8572
- across 1 past editions
A perfect score on the table
1
perfect 180s
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- Sure Shot BBQ · Chicken
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, 2023 | Cedar Park, TX | Elizabeth Wilburn Park Cedar Park | 57 | 702.8456 | Gettin'Based | LC BBQ |
| Apr 5, 2024 ← this one | Cedar Park, TX | Elizabeth Wilburn Park Cedar Park | 40 | 706.8460 | Sure Shot BBQ | Texas Chrome Hero's |
| Mar 28, 2025 | Cedar Park, TX | Elizabeth Milburn Park Cedar Park | 48 | 694.2400 | Gettin' Basted | Cuatro D BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 171.9656 | 170.2744 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 175.4172 | 173.7028 |
| Pork | 178.2972 | 174.8456 | 172.5600 |
| Brisket | 178.2972 | 173.7028 | 167.3828 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
40 entries · top 706.8460 · median 650.4628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sure Shot BBQ | |
| 2 | Texas Chrome Hero's | |
| 3 | Barton BBQ | |
| 4 | Crossed Rifles BBQ | |
| 5 | TEXAS WARPIG BBQ | |
| 6 | On Call Cookers | |
| 7 | Smoke Show BBQ | |
| 8 | LA PASADITA | |
| 9 | TINY E BBQ | |
| 10 | HOLLOW Q | |
| 11 | THE REPUBLIC OF 'QUE | |
| 12 | Totally Bodacious BBQ | |
| 13 | Quality in Smoke | |
| 14 | PS I Love BBQ | |
| 15 | Kanned D | |
| 16 | Jc's Good Ol'Boys | |
| 17 | ROLLIN' SMOKE BBQ TEXAS | |
| 18 | The Chopping Block | |
| 19 | Bout Time BBQ | |
| 20 | PAPPO'S BBQ | |
| 21 | Smokin Bros | |
| 22 | Fire Oak Distillery & BBQ | |
| 23 | George's Jungle | |
| 24 | ATX Hot Sauce | |
| 25 | THe Bread Man | |
| 26 | Waterbear Global | |
| 27 | Ribbed 4 your Pleasure | |
| 28 | King Carne BBQ | |
| 29 | Smokin Cochinos | |
| 30 | Dead Last BBQ | |
| 31 | Barn Burners BBQ | |
| 32 | Rednecks Con Fuego | |
| 33 | Smoke'd not FRI'd | |
| 34 | Smitty's Meating House | |
| 35 | Get'em Hooked BBQ | |
| 36 | Chuck Lee BBQ | |
| 37 | Get ER Done | |
| 38 | Smokin Cochinos in Training | |
| 39 | TEXAS SMOKE WHISPERER | |
| 40 | Chasco Constructors |
Chicken
40 entries · top 180 · median 165.6914 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sure Shot BBQ | |
| 2 | TINY E BBQ | |
| 3 | TEXAS SMOKE WHISPERER | |
| 4 | On Call Cookers | |
| 5 | THE REPUBLIC OF 'QUE | |
| 6 | Crossed Rifles BBQ | |
| 7 | The Chopping Block | |
| 8 | Quality in Smoke | |
| 9 | Barton BBQ | |
| 10 | Fire Oak Distillery & BBQ | |
| 11 | Totally Bodacious BBQ | |
| 12 | Smoke Show BBQ | |
| 13 | HOLLOW Q | |
| 14 | LA PASADITA | |
| 15 | Smokin Bros | |
| 16 | Dead Last BBQ | |
| 17 | Texas Chrome Hero's | |
| 18 | TEXAS WARPIG BBQ | |
| 19 | PAPPO'S BBQ | |
| 20 | Bout Time BBQ | |
| 21 | PS I Love BBQ | |
| 22 | Jc's Good Ol'Boys | |
| 23 | ATX Hot Sauce | |
| 24 | Get'em Hooked BBQ | |
| 25 | Kanned D | |
| 26 | Smoke'd not FRI'd | |
| 27 | ROLLIN' SMOKE BBQ TEXAS | |
| 28 | THe Bread Man | |
| 29 | Barn Burners BBQ | |
| 30 | Rednecks Con Fuego | |
| 31 | George's Jungle | |
| 32 | Smokin Cochinos | |
| 33 | King Carne BBQ | |
| 34 | Ribbed 4 your Pleasure | |
| 35 | Smitty's Meating House | |
| 36 | Waterbear Global | |
| 37 | Chuck Lee BBQ | |
| 38 | Smokin Cochinos in Training | |
| 39 | Get ER Done | |
| 40 | Chasco Constructors |
Pork Ribs
40 entries · top 178.8572 · median 165.1200
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HOLLOW Q | |
| 2 | LA PASADITA | |
| 3 | Sure Shot BBQ | |
| 4 | Smoke Show BBQ | |
| 5 | On Call Cookers | |
| 6 | Texas Chrome Hero's | |
| 7 | Crossed Rifles BBQ | |
| 8 | PAPPO'S BBQ | |
| 9 | THE REPUBLIC OF 'QUE | |
| 10 | TEXAS WARPIG BBQ | |
| 11 | Barton BBQ | |
| 12 | Kanned D | |
| 13 | Totally Bodacious BBQ | |
| 14 | TINY E BBQ | |
| 15 | Jc's Good Ol'Boys | |
| 16 | Bout Time BBQ | |
| 17 | Quality in Smoke | |
| 18 | PS I Love BBQ | |
| 19 | George's Jungle | |
| 20 | Ribbed 4 your Pleasure | |
| 21 | Fire Oak Distillery & BBQ | |
| 22 | ROLLIN' SMOKE BBQ TEXAS | |
| 23 | TEXAS SMOKE WHISPERER | |
| 24 | Smokin Cochinos | |
| 25 | Get'em Hooked BBQ | |
| 26 | Chasco Constructors | |
| 27 | THe Bread Man | |
| 28 | ATX Hot Sauce | |
| 29 | Rednecks Con Fuego | |
| 30 | Dead Last BBQ | |
| 31 | Waterbear Global | |
| 32 | The Chopping Block | |
| 33 | King Carne BBQ | |
| 34 | Smokin Cochinos in Training | |
| 35 | Smoke'd not FRI'd | |
| 36 | Get ER Done | |
| 37 | Smitty's Meating House | |
| 38 | Chuck Lee BBQ | |
| 39 | Barn Burners BBQ | |
| 40 | Smokin Bros |
Pork
40 entries · top 178.2972 · median 166.2686
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas Chrome Hero's | |
| 2 | Totally Bodacious BBQ | |
| 3 | Barton BBQ | |
| 4 | Crossed Rifles BBQ | |
| 5 | TEXAS SMOKE WHISPERER | |
| 6 | Smoke Show BBQ | |
| 7 | PS I Love BBQ | |
| 8 | TEXAS WARPIG BBQ | |
| 9 | LA PASADITA | |
| 10 | Bout Time BBQ | |
| 11 | On Call Cookers | |
| 12 | Sure Shot BBQ | |
| 13 | Kanned D | |
| 14 | HOLLOW Q | |
| 15 | ROLLIN' SMOKE BBQ TEXAS | |
| 16 | Jc's Good Ol'Boys | |
| 17 | TINY E BBQ | |
| 18 | THE REPUBLIC OF 'QUE | |
| 19 | Smokin Bros | |
| 20 | George's Jungle | |
| 21 | The Chopping Block | |
| 22 | Barn Burners BBQ | |
| 23 | Quality in Smoke | |
| 24 | Waterbear Global | |
| 25 | Ribbed 4 your Pleasure | |
| 26 | Smitty's Meating House | |
| 27 | Chasco Constructors | |
| 28 | King Carne BBQ | |
| 29 | Smokin Cochinos | |
| 30 | PAPPO'S BBQ | |
| 31 | Get ER Done | |
| 32 | Smokin Cochinos in Training | |
| 33 | Fire Oak Distillery & BBQ | |
| 34 | ATX Hot Sauce | |
| 35 | Rednecks Con Fuego | |
| 36 | Dead Last BBQ | |
| 37 | THe Bread Man | |
| 38 | Smoke'd not FRI'd | |
| 39 | Chuck Lee BBQ | |
| 40 | Get'em Hooked BBQ |
Brisket
39 entries · top 178.2972 · median 164.5256
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sure Shot BBQ | |
| 2 | TEXAS WARPIG BBQ | |
| 3 | Texas Chrome Hero's | |
| 4 | Barton BBQ | |
| 5 | The Chopping Block | |
| 6 | ROLLIN' SMOKE BBQ TEXAS | |
| 7 | Quality in Smoke | |
| 8 | THe Bread Man | |
| 9 | Crossed Rifles BBQ | |
| 10 | TINY E BBQ | |
| 11 | Waterbear Global | |
| 12 | ATX Hot Sauce | |
| 13 | Smoke Show BBQ | |
| 14 | PS I Love BBQ | |
| 15 | Jc's Good Ol'Boys | |
| 16 | LA PASADITA | |
| 17 | On Call Cookers | |
| 18 | HOLLOW Q | |
| 19 | THE REPUBLIC OF 'QUE | |
| 20 | Kanned D | |
| 21 | Smokin Bros | |
| 22 | Chasco Constructors | |
| 23 | George's Jungle | |
| 24 | Chuck Lee BBQ | |
| 25 | Totally Bodacious BBQ | |
| 26 | Bout Time BBQ | |
| 27 | Ribbed 4 your Pleasure | |
| 28 | Fire Oak Distillery & BBQ | |
| 29 | King Carne BBQ | |
| 30 | PAPPO'S BBQ | |
| 31 | Smoke'd not FRI'd | |
| 32 | Smokin Cochinos | |
| 33 | Get ER Done | |
| 34 | Rednecks Con Fuego | |
| 35 | Barn Burners BBQ | |
| 36 | Dead Last BBQ | |
| 37 | Get'em Hooked BBQ | |
| 38 | Smitty's Meating House | |
| 39 | Smokin Cochinos in Training |
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 — Cook'S Choice
10 entries · top 180 · median 172.5656 · 🔥 perfect 180