May 24–25, 2024 · Boulder City, NV · State championship
Reps: Kathleen McIntosh, Kelly McIntosh · Prize money: $8,500
PORTERHOUSE BBQ won Grand Champion at the Best Dam Barbeque on May 24, 2024 in Boulder City, NV, scoring 695.3600 in a field of 33 teams. BURNIN AND LOOTIN took Reserve Grand Champion with 694.7772. Category winners: Chicken — Tuffy's BBQ (177.7144); Pork Ribs — Chucho Q (180.0000); Pork — Tuffy's BBQ (179.4400); Brisket — Roughhouse Barbecue (177.1544). This is the 4th of 4 editions of this contest on record; the 2023 edition was won by Stevo's BBQ.
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, 2018 to 2024 — 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.
Closer than 89% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.5828 points — closer than 89% of every championship in the data.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 80 times in 100
Porterhouse BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, BIG POPPA SMOKERS, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 20-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
PORTERHOUSE BBQ won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 2 calls from 4 boards, best of them 3rd. Consistency beat fireworks.
First to fifth in the overall standings covered just 4.0116 points — 2 teams sat within a single point of the lead.
Chicken places 9–10: SLINGIN MEATS and Needs More Cowbell BBQ tied on 171.9772 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 9–10: B' MACKIN BBQ and Big Johns BBQ Company tied on 174.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 4–5: PORTERHOUSE BBQ and B' MACKIN BBQ tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
Tuffy's BBQ won Chicken, Pork — a double.
Chucho Q turned in 180.0000 in pork ribs — past the 178.8572 that had stood across 3 earlier editions.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Girls Can Grill (won 2022).
This contest usually draws about 28 teams
33 teams is the deepest field this contest has drawn in the data, against a typical 28.
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 25, 2018 | Boulder City, NV | Boulder City, NV 89005 | 30 | 693.1316 | SQUAT AND GOBBLE BARBEQUE | BIG POPPA SMOKERS |
| May 27, 2022 | Boulder City, NV | 999 Colorado Street | 26 | 698.2516 | Girls Can Grill | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ |
| May 26, 2023 | Boulder City, NV | Boulder City, NV 89005 | 27 | 711.4056 | Stevo's BBQ | Rhythm n QUE |
| May 24, 2024 ← this one | Boulder City, NV | Boulder City, NV 89005 | 33 | 695.3600 | Porterhouse BBQ | BURNIN AND LOOTIN |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.7144 | 174.2628 | 171.9772 |
| Pork Ribs | 180 | 176 | 174.2628 |
| Pork | 179.4400 | 175.4172 | 174.2628 |
| Brisket | 177.1544 | 174.2628 | 171.4172 |
33 entries · top 695.3600 · median 678.7888
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | |
| 2 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 3 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 4 | Big Johns BBQ Company | |
| 5 | Mad Dog BBQ | |
| 6 | Tuffy's BBQ | |
| 7 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 8 | BIG RED BBQ | |
| 9 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 10 | GIRLS CAN GRILL | |
| 11 | SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ | |
| 12 | Rhythm n QUE | |
| 13 | RACK CITY BBQ | |
| 14 | Roughhouse Barbecue | |
| 15 | Chucho Q | |
| 16 | 1 Bite BBQ | |
| 17 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 18 | 5TH GEAR BBQ | |
| 19 | SLINGIN MEATS | |
| 20 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | |
| 21 | Smoke-Em-Good | |
| 22 | ALL ABOUT SMOKIN Q | |
| 23 | CLOUD OF SMOKE BBQ | |
| 24 | Vegas Grillbillies | |
| 25 | Needs More Cowbell BBQ | |
| 26 | STEVE'S PIG PIKINS BBQ | |
| 27 | LUCKY LADIES BBQ | |
| 28 | Jay Miller and the Experience | |
| 29 | Generation Q | |
| 30 | The Smokin' B.A.R. | |
| 31 | Fox Smokehouse BBQ | |
| 32 | Rue-Do BBQ | |
| 33 | Churchhill Downs Smokers |
33 entries · top 177.7144 · median 169.1428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tuffy's BBQ | |
| 2 | Mad Dog BBQ | |
| 3 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | |
| 4 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 5 | Smoke-Em-Good | |
| 6 | RACK CITY BBQ | |
| 7 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ | |
| 9 | SLINGIN MEATS | |
| 10 | Needs More Cowbell BBQ | |
| 11 | Vegas Grillbillies | |
| 12 | 1 Bite BBQ | |
| 13 | Rhythm n QUE | |
| 14 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 15 | GIRLS CAN GRILL | |
| 16 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 17 | Big Johns BBQ Company | |
| 18 | The Smokin' B.A.R. | |
| 19 | Jay Miller and the Experience | |
| 20 | Generation Q | |
| 21 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | |
| 22 | BIG RED BBQ | |
| 23 | CLOUD OF SMOKE BBQ | |
| 24 | Chucho Q | |
| 25 | 5TH GEAR BBQ | |
| 26 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 27 | Roughhouse Barbecue | |
| 28 | Churchhill Downs Smokers | |
| 29 | ALL ABOUT SMOKIN Q | |
| 30 | STEVE'S PIG PIKINS BBQ | |
| 31 | Fox Smokehouse BBQ | |
| 32 | LUCKY LADIES BBQ | |
| 33 | Rue-Do BBQ |
33 entries · top 180 · median 170.2628 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chucho Q | |
| 2 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 3 | STEVE'S PIG PIKINS BBQ | |
| 4 | BIG RED BBQ | |
| 5 | ALL ABOUT SMOKIN Q | |
| 6 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 7 | SLINGIN MEATS | |
| 8 | Rhythm n QUE | |
| 9 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 10 | Big Johns BBQ Company | |
| 11 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | |
| 12 | Roughhouse Barbecue | |
| 13 | 1 Bite BBQ | |
| 14 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 15 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 16 | Fox Smokehouse BBQ | |
| 17 | GIRLS CAN GRILL | |
| 18 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | |
| 19 | RACK CITY BBQ | |
| 20 | SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ | |
| 21 | Vegas Grillbillies | |
| 22 | 5TH GEAR BBQ | |
| 23 | LUCKY LADIES BBQ | |
| 24 | Smoke-Em-Good | |
| 25 | Tuffy's BBQ | |
| 26 | The Smokin' B.A.R. | |
| 27 | Mad Dog BBQ | |
| 28 | Needs More Cowbell BBQ | |
| 29 | CLOUD OF SMOKE BBQ | |
| 30 | Generation Q | |
| 31 | Jay Miller and the Experience | |
| 32 | Rue-Do BBQ | |
| 33 | Churchhill Downs Smokers |
33 entries · top 179.4400 · median 169.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tuffy's BBQ | |
| 2 | Mad Dog BBQ | |
| 3 | BIG RED BBQ | |
| 4 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | |
| 5 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 6 | RACK CITY BBQ | |
| 7 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 8 | Big Johns BBQ Company | |
| 9 | Smoke-Em-Good | |
| 10 | CLOUD OF SMOKE BBQ | |
| 11 | GIRLS CAN GRILL | |
| 12 | Rhythm n QUE | |
| 13 | SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ | |
| 14 | 5TH GEAR BBQ | |
| 15 | Chucho Q | |
| 16 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 17 | Vegas Grillbillies | |
| 18 | STEVE'S PIG PIKINS BBQ | |
| 19 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 20 | SLINGIN MEATS | |
| 21 | Roughhouse Barbecue | |
| 22 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 23 | Generation Q | |
| 24 | LUCKY LADIES BBQ | |
| 25 | Jay Miller and the Experience | |
| 26 | 1 Bite BBQ | |
| 27 | The Smokin' B.A.R. | |
| 28 | Fox Smokehouse BBQ | |
| 29 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | |
| 30 | Needs More Cowbell BBQ | |
| 31 | Churchhill Downs Smokers | |
| 32 | ALL ABOUT SMOKIN Q | |
| 33 | Rue-Do BBQ |
33 entries · top 177.1544 · median 167.9888
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roughhouse Barbecue | |
| 2 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 3 | BURNIN AND LOOTIN | |
| 4 | Big Johns BBQ Company | |
| 5 | ALL ABOUT SMOKIN Q | |
| 6 | 1 Bite BBQ | |
| 7 | Needs More Cowbell BBQ | |
| 8 | Mad Dog BBQ | |
| 9 | GIRLS CAN GRILL | |
| 10 | B' MACKIN BBQ | |
| 11 | LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | |
| 12 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 13 | SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ | |
| 14 | 5TH GEAR BBQ | |
| 15 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 16 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | |
| 17 | LUCKY LADIES BBQ | |
| 18 | Tuffy's BBQ | |
| 19 | RACK CITY BBQ | |
| 20 | CLOUD OF SMOKE BBQ | |
| 21 | Rhythm n QUE | |
| 22 | BIG RED BBQ | |
| 23 | Chucho Q | |
| 24 | Vegas Grillbillies | |
| 25 | SLINGIN MEATS | |
| 26 | Smoke-Em-Good | |
| 27 | STEVE'S PIG PIKINS BBQ | |
| 28 | Jay Miller and the Experience | |
| 29 | Fox Smokehouse BBQ | |
| 30 | Generation Q | |
| 31 | The Smokin' B.A.R. | |
| 32 | Rue-Do BBQ | |
| 33 | Churchhill Downs Smokers |