A new contest record
703.9544
highest overall ever cooked here
703.9544 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 703.3828 MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ set in 2022.
- old record 703.3828
- set 2022 by MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ
Smokin' in the Creek BBQ Contest 2024
Apr 26–27, 2024 · Sugar Creek, MO · 📍 11520 Putnam · State championship
Reps: Clara Williams, Jonathan B Williams
WABASH BBQ won Grand Champion at the Smokin' in the Creek BBQ Contest on April 26, 2024 in Sugar Creek, MO at 11520 Putnam, scoring 703.9544 in a field of 44 teams. Mulkey's BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 701.0856. Category winners: Chicken — Dr. Squealgood BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — Mulkey's BBQ (180.0000); Pork — Cow Creek BBQ (178.8572); Brisket — WABASH BBQ (180.0000). This is the 4th of 6 editions of this contest on record; the 2022 edition was won by MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ; 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.
598.03
median 679.88
703.95 🏆
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 180 🔥
- Pork 178.86
- Brisket 180 🔥
138.85
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2019 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
44
4 judged meats
Top score
703.9544
Winning margin
2.8688
GC over RC
Field average
672.50
598.03703.95
median 679.88 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
4 🔥
Tightest race
Chicken
2.2972 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
691.9084
598.03703.95
10th place overall
Field spread
105.9204
winner to last place
Double threats
3
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 18%
beats 82% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.77 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,583
avg power rating going in · stronger than 65% 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.
An upset on the books
15-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 85 times in 100
Wabash BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, GETTIN' BASTED, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 15-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1656
- top seed 1963
A first Grand Championship
85
tracked contests to get there
This was Wabash BBQ's first Grand Championship in the data — it arrived at their 85th tracked contest.
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.
- WABASH BBQ · Brisket
- Dr. Squealgood BBQ · Chicken
- Heavy Smoke BBQ · Chicken
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 14 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 1–2: Dr. Squealgood BBQ and Heavy Smoke BBQ tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 4–5: WABASH BBQ and Squealin N Dealin BBQ tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 5–6: Squealin N Dealin BBQ and PARTS 'R' SMOKIN tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 1–2 · tie
- Chicken 4–5 · tie
- Chicken 5–6 · tie
- Chicken 8–9 · tie
How the title was won
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
WABASH BBQ took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork at 20th.
- Chicken 4th
- Pork Ribs 5th
- Pork 20th
- Brisket 1st
A contest record in chicken
180.0000
best chicken ever cooked here
Dr. Squealgood BBQ turned in 180.0000 in chicken — past the 178.2972 that had stood across 3 earlier editions.
- old best 178.2972
- across 3 past editions
Back to defend
2
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: HEAVY SMOKE BBQ (won 2021), MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ (won 2022).
- HEAVY SMOKE BBQ · 2021
- MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ · 2022
The biggest field yet
44
teams — a contest high
This contest usually draws about 35 teams
44 teams is the deepest field this contest has drawn in the data, against a typical 35.
The contest returns
2 yrs
since the last edition
This contest was away for 2 years — the previous tracked edition ran on 2022-04-22.
- previous edition 2022-04-22
In the record book (1 in the KCBS record book)
What happened at this contest that stands in the all-time KCBS record book. A gold line is a record nobody has beaten.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 2019 | Sugar Creek, MO | 11520 Putman | 42 | 696.5028 | ALL FORKED UP FOR Q | SLAPS BBQ |
| Oct 15, 2021 | Sugar Creek, MO | 11520 Putnam | 27 | 699.9544 | HEAVY SMOKE BBQ | SLAPS BBQ |
| Apr 22, 2022 | Sugar Creek, MO | 11520 Putnam | 35 | 703.3828 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | AMERICAN FIRE BBQ |
| Apr 22, 2022 | Sugar Creek, MO | — | — | — | — | — |
| Apr 26, 2024 ← this one | Sugar Creek, MO | 11520 Putnam | 44 | 703.9544 | Wabash BBQ | Mulkey's BBQ |
| Apr 25, 2025 | Sugar Creek, MO | 11520 Putnam | 40 | 703.3828 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | MEAT ME IN ST. LOUIS |
| Apr 24, 2026 | Sugar Creek, MO | 11520 Putnam | 28 | 699.9772 | SLAPS BBQ | Squealin N Dealin BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 177.7028 | 174.2744 |
| Pork Ribs | 180 | 176.5716 | 174.8572 |
| Pork | 178.8572 | 176 | 174.2628 |
| Brisket | 180 | 176.0228 | 174.2628 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
44 entries · top 703.9544 · median 679.8798
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 2 | Mulkey's BBQ | |
| 3 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 4 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 5 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 6 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine | |
| 7 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 8 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 9 | Bad Influence BBQ - MO | |
| 10 | GEO SMOKERS | |
| 11 | Dr. Squealgood BBQ | |
| 12 | Sofa King Sweet BBQ | |
| 13 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 14 | KEEP CALM & SAUCE ON | |
| 15 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 16 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 17 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 18 | NEVER EASY BBQ | |
| 19 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 20 | Stewey Magoos BBQ | |
| 21 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 22 | Ambition Que | |
| 23 | B 3 BBQ | |
| 24 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 25 | Blind Fox BBQ | |
| 26 | IRWIN'S PIT CREW BBQ | |
| 27 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 28 | TORNADO BBQ | |
| 29 | Split Borders BBQ | |
| 30 | Beer & Bones | |
| 31 | E SQUARED BBQ | |
| 32 | Notch 9 | |
| 33 | A BBQ TEAM - MO | |
| 34 | Drumline BBQ | |
| 35 | Absolute Bull | |
| 36 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 37 | IHC BBQ | |
| 38 | Smokin' Beaver BBQ | |
| 39 | Hi-Tech Smokers | |
| 40 | Tall Boy BBQ | |
| 41 | Papa Bears KC Barbecue | |
| 42 | "Y" Barbecue | |
| 43 | FAT CAT'S BBQ OF LSMO | |
| 44 | Double D BBQ |
Chicken
44 entries · top 180 · median 170.8286 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Squealgood BBQ | |
| 2 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 3 | E SQUARED BBQ | |
| 4 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 5 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 6 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 7 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 8 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 9 | GEO SMOKERS | |
| 10 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine | |
| 11 | KEEP CALM & SAUCE ON | |
| 12 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 13 | Bad Influence BBQ - MO | |
| 14 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 15 | Stewey Magoos BBQ | |
| 16 | B 3 BBQ | |
| 17 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 18 | A BBQ TEAM - MO | |
| 19 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 20 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 21 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 22 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 23 | Sofa King Sweet BBQ | |
| 24 | Beer & Bones | |
| 25 | Blind Fox BBQ | |
| 26 | Mulkey's BBQ | |
| 27 | Ambition Que | |
| 28 | Split Borders BBQ | |
| 29 | Tall Boy BBQ | |
| 30 | NEVER EASY BBQ | |
| 31 | FAT CAT'S BBQ OF LSMO | |
| 32 | TORNADO BBQ | |
| 33 | Smokin' Beaver BBQ | |
| 34 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 35 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 36 | Hi-Tech Smokers | |
| 37 | IRWIN'S PIT CREW BBQ | |
| 38 | Papa Bears KC Barbecue | |
| 39 | IHC BBQ | |
| 40 | Notch 9 | |
| 41 | Drumline BBQ | |
| 42 | Absolute Bull | |
| 43 | Double D BBQ | |
| 44 | "Y" Barbecue |
Pork Ribs
44 entries · top 180 · median 169.9772 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mulkey's BBQ | |
| 2 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 3 | Sofa King Sweet BBQ | |
| 4 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 5 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 6 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 7 | NEVER EASY BBQ | |
| 8 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 9 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 10 | Ambition Que | |
| 11 | Bad Influence BBQ - MO | |
| 12 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine | |
| 13 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 14 | IHC BBQ | |
| 15 | GEO SMOKERS | |
| 16 | IRWIN'S PIT CREW BBQ | |
| 17 | B 3 BBQ | |
| 18 | Absolute Bull | |
| 19 | TORNADO BBQ | |
| 20 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 21 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 22 | Beer & Bones | |
| 23 | Drumline BBQ | |
| 24 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 25 | Notch 9 | |
| 26 | Dr. Squealgood BBQ | |
| 27 | Blind Fox BBQ | |
| 28 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 29 | "Y" Barbecue | |
| 30 | Stewey Magoos BBQ | |
| 31 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 32 | E SQUARED BBQ | |
| 33 | KEEP CALM & SAUCE ON | |
| 34 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 35 | Hi-Tech Smokers | |
| 36 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 37 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 38 | Smokin' Beaver BBQ | |
| 39 | Split Borders BBQ | |
| 40 | A BBQ TEAM - MO | |
| 41 | Papa Bears KC Barbecue | |
| 42 | Tall Boy BBQ | |
| 43 | Double D BBQ | |
| 44 | FAT CAT'S BBQ OF LSMO |
Pork
44 entries · top 178.8572 · median 168.8286
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 2 | Sofa King Sweet BBQ | |
| 3 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine | |
| 4 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 5 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 6 | IRWIN'S PIT CREW BBQ | |
| 7 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 8 | Mulkey's BBQ | |
| 9 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 10 | KEEP CALM & SAUCE ON | |
| 11 | Dr. Squealgood BBQ | |
| 12 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 13 | Drumline BBQ | |
| 14 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 15 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 16 | GEO SMOKERS | |
| 17 | Beer & Bones | |
| 18 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 19 | TORNADO BBQ | |
| 20 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 21 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 22 | A BBQ TEAM - MO | |
| 23 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 24 | Hi-Tech Smokers | |
| 25 | NEVER EASY BBQ | |
| 26 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 27 | Blind Fox BBQ | |
| 28 | Split Borders BBQ | |
| 29 | B 3 BBQ | |
| 30 | Bad Influence BBQ - MO | |
| 31 | IHC BBQ | |
| 32 | Notch 9 | |
| 33 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 34 | Stewey Magoos BBQ | |
| 35 | Absolute Bull | |
| 36 | Tall Boy BBQ | |
| 37 | Smokin' Beaver BBQ | |
| 38 | Ambition Que | |
| 39 | E SQUARED BBQ | |
| 40 | Double D BBQ | |
| 41 | "Y" Barbecue | |
| 42 | Papa Bears KC Barbecue | |
| 43 | FAT CAT'S BBQ OF LSMO | |
| 44 | GRILLIN' GRINDES |
Brisket
44 entries · top 180 · median 168.2514 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 2 | SONS OF A BRISKET | |
| 3 | Stewey Magoos BBQ | |
| 4 | Bad Influence BBQ - MO | |
| 5 | Notch 9 | |
| 6 | GETTIN' BASTED | |
| 7 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 8 | Mulkey's BBQ | |
| 9 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 10 | NEVER EASY BBQ | |
| 11 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 12 | Ambition Que | |
| 13 | Split Borders BBQ | |
| 14 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 15 | Blind Fox BBQ | |
| 16 | KEEP CALM & SAUCE ON | |
| 17 | GEO SMOKERS | |
| 18 | TORNADO BBQ | |
| 19 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 20 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 21 | Dr. Squealgood BBQ | |
| 22 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine | |
| 23 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 24 | IRWIN'S PIT CREW BBQ | |
| 25 | B 3 BBQ | |
| 26 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 27 | Absolute Bull | |
| 28 | LOVE 2 Q | |
| 29 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 30 | PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | |
| 31 | Sofa King Sweet BBQ | |
| 32 | Drumline BBQ | |
| 33 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 34 | E SQUARED BBQ | |
| 35 | A BBQ TEAM - MO | |
| 36 | Papa Bears KC Barbecue | |
| 37 | Beer & Bones | |
| 38 | Tall Boy BBQ | |
| 39 | IHC BBQ | |
| 40 | Smokin' Beaver BBQ | |
| 41 | FAT CAT'S BBQ OF LSMO | |
| 42 | Hi-Tech Smokers | |
| 43 | Double D BBQ | |
| 44 | "Y" Barbecue |