A razor-thin finish
0.5484
points between champion and reserve
Closer than 93% of the 4,714 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.5484 points — closer than 93% of every championship in the data.
- DB BBQ
- LC BBQ
Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (MASTER & BACKYARD) 2024
Jun 7–8, 2024 · West Salem, WI · 📍 N5334 Neshonoc RD. · State championship
Reps: Charlie Brinza, David Burstein, Jeanne Titus · Prize money: $8,700
DB BBQ won Grand Champion at the Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (MASTER & BACKYARD) on June 7, 2024 in West Salem, WI at N5334 Neshonoc RD., scoring 698.8000 in a field of 41 teams. LC BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 698.2516. Category winners: Chicken — Son of a Boar BBQ (177.7028); Pork Ribs — HOT DADDY'S BBQ (180.0000); Pork — SHIGGIN & GRINNIN (180.0000); Brisket — LC BBQ (177.7144). The Backyard Series standings were won by Rudes BBQ with 349.7028. This is the 5th of 10 editions of this contest on record; the 2023 edition was won by Ash Kickin' 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.
609.03
median 669.59
698.80 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 177.70
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 180 🔥
- Master Series — Pork 180 🔥
- Master Series — Brisket 177.71
- Backyard Series — Chicken 180 🔥
- Backyard Series — Pork Ribs 176
136.53
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2020 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
41
6 judged meats · 2 ancillary
Top score
698.8000
Winning margin
0.5484
GC over RC
Field average
668.82
609.03698.80
median 669.59 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
4 🔥
Tightest race
Chicken
2.2972 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
681.6228
609.03698.80
10th place overall
Field spread
89.7712
winner to last place
Prize money
$8,700
on the line
Double threats
6
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 39%
beats 61% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
59%
43 of 73 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.46 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,600
avg power rating going in · stronger than 77% of contests
Storylines (8 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
18-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 82 times in 100
DB BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, SHIGGIN & GRINNIN, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 18-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1653
- top seed 1918
Won without a category win
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
DB BBQ won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 15th
- Pork Ribs 4th
- Pork 7th
- Brisket 2nd
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.
- FENDER BENDER BBQ · Chicken
- SHIGGIN & GRINNIN · Pork
- NECTAR OF THE HOGS · Pork
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 8 tracked editions
Hot Daddy's BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 8 tracked editions.
- 2022
- 2026
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 20 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Chicken places 2–3: SHIGGIN & GRINNIN and MACHETE BOYS BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 7–8: WHEN PIGS DIE and Ash Kickin' BBQ tied on 174.2744 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 8–9: Ash Kickin' BBQ and Steel Smoke BBQ tied on 174.2744 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Master Series — Chicken 2–3 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 8–9 · tie
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 3–4 · tie
A contest record in chicken
180.0000
best chicken ever cooked here
FENDER BENDER BBQ turned in 180.0000 in chicken — past the 178.8572 that had stood across 4 earlier editions.
- old best 178.8572
- across 4 past editions
Back to defend
3
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: RUB MY RACK (won 2021), Hot Daddy's BBQ (won 2022), Ash Kickin' BBQ (won 2023).
- RUB MY RACK · 2021
- Hot Daddy's BBQ · 2022
- Ash Kickin' BBQ · 2023
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 16, 2020 | West Salem, WI | N5334 Neshonoc RD. | 40 | 689.7372 | PIGTAILERS BBQ | Phoenix BBQ |
| Jun 11, 2021 | West Salem, WI | N5334 Neshonoc RD. | 52 | 690.8000 | RUB MY RACK | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN |
| Jun 10, 2022 | West Salem, WI | N5334 Neshonoc RD. | 39 | 694.1940 | Hot Daddy's BBQ | HOGLINE |
| Jun 9, 2023 | West Salem, WI | N5334 Neshonoc RD. | 43 | 702.2516 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | PORKRASTINATORS |
| Jun 7, 2024 ← this one | West Salem, WI | N5334 Neshonoc RD. | 41 | 698.8000 | DB BBQ | LC BBQ |
| Jun 13, 2025 | West Salem, WI | N5334 Neshonoc Rd. | 36 | 695.3828 | Team Crawford | HOME FARM BBQ |
| Jun 12, 2026 | West Salem, WI | N5334 Neshonoc Rd. | 40 | 692.4684 | Shiggin & Grinnin | JANKY LEG BBQ |
| Jun 12, 2026 | West Salem, WI | N5334 Neshonoc Rd. | 30 | 179.4400 | Hot Daddy's BBQ | — |
| Jun 11, 2027 | West Salem, WI | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jun 11, 2027 | West Salem, WI | — | — | — | — | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 177.7028 | 175.4056 | 174.2628 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 180 | 174.2628 | 170.8460 |
| Master Series — Pork | 180 | 174.2744 | 170.8344 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 177.7144 | 175.4172 | 172.5600 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 180 | 173.7028 | 171.4172 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 176 | 171.9884 | 170.2628 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
41 entries · top 698.8000 · median 669.5888
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DB BBQ | |
| 2 | LC BBQ | |
| 3 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 4 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 5 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 6 | IT'S BBQ TIME | |
| 7 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 8 | QUE U | |
| 9 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 10 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 11 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 12 | Steel Smoke BBQ | |
| 13 | WRECKING CREW BBQ | |
| 14 | Phoenix BBQ | |
| 15 | THE GREAT PIG IN THE SKY | |
| 16 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 17 | T-MAC SMOKIN | |
| 18 | SMOKIN BIG | |
| 19 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 20 | AWESOME RACKS COOKIN CREW | |
| 21 | Sugar Shack | |
| 22 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 23 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 24 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 25 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 26 | T Daddys BBQ | |
| 27 | Rack Shack bbq | |
| 28 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 29 | Smokin G's BBQ | |
| 30 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 31 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 32 | Don't Tread on Meat | |
| 33 | Red Rock Cafe | |
| 34 | Good Grefe! | |
| 35 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 36 | Wisco Fire BBQ | |
| 37 | RUB MY RACK | |
| 38 | Ambition Que | |
| 39 | Black Crown Barbeque | |
| 40 | 92 - BBQ | |
| 41 | Northstar BBQ |
Chicken
41 entries · top 177.7028 · median 169.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 2 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 3 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 4 | Phoenix BBQ | |
| 5 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 6 | Red Rock Cafe | |
| 7 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 8 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 9 | Steel Smoke BBQ | |
| 10 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 11 | Rack Shack bbq | |
| 12 | IT'S BBQ TIME | |
| 13 | LC BBQ | |
| 14 | WRECKING CREW BBQ | |
| 15 | DB BBQ | |
| 16 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 17 | THE GREAT PIG IN THE SKY | |
| 18 | QUE U | |
| 19 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 20 | Good Grefe! | |
| 21 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 22 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 23 | RUB MY RACK | |
| 24 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 25 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 26 | T Daddys BBQ | |
| 27 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 28 | Wisco Fire BBQ | |
| 29 | AWESOME RACKS COOKIN CREW | |
| 30 | Black Crown Barbeque | |
| 31 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 32 | Smokin G's BBQ | |
| 33 | T-MAC SMOKIN | |
| 34 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 35 | 92 - BBQ | |
| 36 | SMOKIN BIG | |
| 37 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 38 | Sugar Shack | |
| 39 | Don't Tread on Meat | |
| 40 | Northstar BBQ | |
| 41 | Ambition Que |
Pork Ribs
41 entries · top 180 · median 165.7028 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 2 | THE GREAT PIG IN THE SKY | |
| 3 | LC BBQ | |
| 4 | DB BBQ | |
| 5 | IT'S BBQ TIME | |
| 6 | T-MAC SMOKIN | |
| 7 | T Daddys BBQ | |
| 8 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 9 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 10 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 11 | WRECKING CREW BBQ | |
| 12 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 13 | QUE U | |
| 14 | Smokin G's BBQ | |
| 15 | Don't Tread on Meat | |
| 16 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 17 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 18 | Black Crown Barbeque | |
| 19 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 20 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 21 | SMOKIN BIG | |
| 22 | Sugar Shack | |
| 23 | RUB MY RACK | |
| 24 | Phoenix BBQ | |
| 25 | AWESOME RACKS COOKIN CREW | |
| 26 | Ambition Que | |
| 27 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 28 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 29 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 30 | Wisco Fire BBQ | |
| 31 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 32 | Rack Shack bbq | |
| 33 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 34 | Steel Smoke BBQ | |
| 35 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 36 | Good Grefe! | |
| 37 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 38 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 39 | Red Rock Cafe | |
| 40 | Northstar BBQ | |
| 41 | 92 - BBQ |
Pork
41 entries · top 180 · median 166.8344 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 2 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 3 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 4 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 5 | T-MAC SMOKIN | |
| 6 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 7 | DB BBQ | |
| 8 | LC BBQ | |
| 9 | Steel Smoke BBQ | |
| 10 | Sugar Shack | |
| 11 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 12 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 13 | QUE U | |
| 14 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 15 | Good Grefe! | |
| 16 | WRECKING CREW BBQ | |
| 17 | SMOKIN BIG | |
| 18 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 19 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 20 | IT'S BBQ TIME | |
| 21 | AWESOME RACKS COOKIN CREW | |
| 22 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 23 | Phoenix BBQ | |
| 24 | Red Rock Cafe | |
| 25 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 26 | Northstar BBQ | |
| 27 | Rack Shack bbq | |
| 28 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 29 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 30 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 31 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 32 | Wisco Fire BBQ | |
| 33 | THE GREAT PIG IN THE SKY | |
| 34 | T Daddys BBQ | |
| 35 | 92 - BBQ | |
| 36 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 37 | Don't Tread on Meat | |
| 38 | Ambition Que | |
| 39 | RUB MY RACK | |
| 40 | Black Crown Barbeque | |
| 41 | Smokin G's BBQ |
Brisket
41 entries · top 177.7144 · median 168.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LC BBQ | |
| 2 | DB BBQ | |
| 3 | Ash Kickin' BBQ | |
| 4 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 5 | SMOKIN BIG | |
| 6 | Smokin G's BBQ | |
| 7 | Don't Tread on Meat | |
| 8 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 9 | Steel Smoke BBQ | |
| 10 | IT'S BBQ TIME | |
| 11 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 12 | AWESOME RACKS COOKIN CREW | |
| 13 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 14 | Sugar Shack | |
| 15 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 16 | Ambition Que | |
| 17 | QUE U | |
| 18 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 19 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 20 | LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 21 | Phoenix BBQ | |
| 22 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 23 | Red Rock Cafe | |
| 24 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 25 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 26 | THE GREAT PIG IN THE SKY | |
| 27 | WRECKING CREW BBQ | |
| 28 | Rack Shack bbq | |
| 29 | Wisco Fire BBQ | |
| 30 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 31 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 32 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 33 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 34 | T Daddys BBQ | |
| 35 | Good Grefe! | |
| 36 | T-MAC SMOKIN | |
| 37 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 38 | RUB MY RACK | |
| 39 | Black Crown Barbeque | |
| 40 | 92 - BBQ | |
| 41 | Northstar BBQ |
Backyard Series
Overall
29 entries · top 349.7028 · median 334.8688
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rudes BBQ | |
| 2 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 3 | Curly Bird BBQ | |
| 4 | BBQ MIKE | |
| 5 | FENDER BENDER BBQ | |
| 6 | Porket About It | |
| 7 | Swine-O-Licious BBQ | |
| 8 | Sensuous BBQ | |
| 9 | Grillzwolds BBQ Team | |
| 10 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 11 | Southside Smoke | |
| 12 | Uncle Bucks & Flattops BBQ Team | |
| 13 | Marty Party BBQ | |
| 14 | Skinny Pig BBQ | |
| 15 | DG Smoke | |
| 16 | Stone Cold Grillers | |
| 17 | Squeeze My Slabs | |
| 18 | Big Ten Bones | |
| 19 | Wapatui Smokers | |
| 20 | Thermal Chaos BBQ | |
| 21 | Breaking Slabs BBQ | |
| 22 | What’cha Got BBQ | |
| 23 | 901 Q | |
| 24 | Sexy Pig BBQ | |
| 25 | Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que | |
| 26 | Sota Smoke BBQ | |
| 27 | Poultrygeist BBQ | |
| 28 | Hot Shots BBQ | |
| 29 | Boo Boo Bus BBQ |
Chicken
29 entries · top 180 · median 168.5372 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FENDER BENDER BBQ | |
| 2 | Porket About It | |
| 3 | BBQ MIKE | |
| 4 | What’cha Got BBQ | |
| 5 | Rudes BBQ | |
| 6 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 7 | Swine-O-Licious BBQ | |
| 8 | Sensuous BBQ | |
| 9 | Marty Party BBQ | |
| 10 | Curly Bird BBQ | |
| 11 | Grillzwolds BBQ Team | |
| 12 | Thermal Chaos BBQ | |
| 13 | Skinny Pig BBQ | |
| 14 | Stone Cold Grillers | |
| 15 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 16 | Big Ten Bones | |
| 17 | Wapatui Smokers | |
| 18 | Uncle Bucks & Flattops BBQ Team | |
| 19 | DG Smoke | |
| 20 | Southside Smoke | |
| 21 | Poultrygeist BBQ | |
| 22 | 901 Q | |
| 23 | Squeeze My Slabs | |
| 24 | Sexy Pig BBQ | |
| 25 | Breaking Slabs BBQ | |
| 26 | Sota Smoke BBQ | |
| 27 | Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que | |
| 28 | Hot Shots BBQ | |
| 29 | Boo Boo Bus BBQ |
Pork Ribs
29 entries · top 176 · median 166.2400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rudes BBQ | |
| 2 | Curly Bird BBQ | |
| 3 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 4 | Southside Smoke | |
| 5 | Swine-O-Licious BBQ | |
| 6 | Sensuous BBQ | |
| 7 | BBQ MIKE | |
| 8 | Squeeze My Slabs | |
| 9 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 10 | Uncle Bucks & Flattops BBQ Team | |
| 11 | Grillzwolds BBQ Team | |
| 12 | DG Smoke | |
| 13 | Skinny Pig BBQ | |
| 14 | FENDER BENDER BBQ | |
| 15 | Breaking Slabs BBQ | |
| 16 | Porket About It | |
| 17 | Marty Party BBQ | |
| 18 | Stone Cold Grillers | |
| 19 | Big Ten Bones | |
| 20 | Sexy Pig BBQ | |
| 21 | Hot Shots BBQ | |
| 22 | 901 Q | |
| 23 | Wapatui Smokers | |
| 24 | Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que | |
| 25 | Thermal Chaos BBQ | |
| 26 | Sota Smoke BBQ | |
| 27 | What’cha Got BBQ | |
| 28 | Poultrygeist BBQ | |
| 29 | Boo Boo Bus 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.
Kids-Q — Junior Q
5 entries · top 173.7028 · median 167.9656
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blake - Fender Bender BBQ | |
| 2 | Cole - Fender Bender BBQ | |
| 3 | Stella - It's BBQ Time | |
| 4 | Mollie - Wrecking Crew BBQ | |
| 5 | Alex - Phoenix BBQ |
Kids-Q — Kids Q
8 entries · top 174.2628 · median 164.5544