A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 4 tracked editions
Q Cartel has won this contest 2 times across its 4 tracked editions.
- 2025
- 2026
Small Town Smoke Down
2024-06-08 – 2024-06-09 · Bassano, AB · CANADA · 📍 610 2 Ave
Reps: BRENDA BLACK, KEN BLACK
Grand Champion: SmellaQue (699.4284) · 27 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 PRAIRIE SMOKE & SPICE BBQ
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.
624.99
median 663.35
699.43 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 176.58
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 179.44
- Master Series — Pork 177.71
- Master Series — Brisket 174.86
- Kids-Q — Pork 178.30
147.36
179.44
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2023 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
27
5 judged meats · 2 ancillary
Top score
699.4284
Winning margin
4.6400
GC over RC
Field average
662.86
624.99699.43
median 663.35 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork
2.2628 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
668.4684
624.99699.43
10th place overall
Field spread
74.4344
winner to last place
Double threats
3
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 34%
beats 66% of 4707 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
52%
12 of 23 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Weak
ρ = -0.25 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1542
avg power rating going in · stronger than 31% of contests
Storylines (5 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.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 8 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Pork places 1–2: Brisket Butts and PRAIRIE SMOKE & SPICE BBQ tied on 177.7144 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 9–10: HOME COOKIN' BBQ edged PRAIRIE SMOKE & SPICE BBQ by 0.0116. Master Series — Brisket places 1–2: SMELLAQUE edged Kreiser Barbecue by 0.0116.
- Master Series — Pork 1–2 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 9–10 · 0.0116
- Master Series — Brisket 1–2 · 0.0116
- Master Series — Chicken 1–2 · 0.0228
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
SMELLAQUE won Pork Ribs, Brisket — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Brisket 1st
How the title was won
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
SMELLAQUE took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was pork at 12th.
- Chicken 3rd
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 12th
- Brisket 1st
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Prairie Smoke & Spice BBQ (won 2023).
- Prairie Smoke & Spice 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-06-03 | Bassano, AB | 610 2 Ave | 23 | 711.4400 | Prairie Smoke & Spice BBQ | Hunny and Hooch BBQ |
| 2024-06-08 ← this one | Bassano, AB | 610 2 Ave | 27 | 699.4284 | SmellaQue | PRAIRIE SMOKE & SPICE BBQ |
| 2025-05-31 | Bassano, AB | 622 2 Ave | 25 | 704.5600 | Q Cartel | BIGG SMOAK BBQ |
| 2026-05-30 | Bassano, AB | 622 2 Ave | 24 | 706.2856 | Q CARTEL | BIGG SMOAK BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 176.5828 | 174.2628 | 168.5140 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 179.4400 | 170.2628 | 164.5604 |
| Master Series — Pork | 177.7144 | 175.4516 | 171.4400 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 174.8572 | 172.5828 | 169.7028 |
| Kids-Q — Pork | 178.2972 | 172.6172 | 163.9772 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
27 entries · top 699.4284 · median 663.3484
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 2 | PRAIRIE SMOKE & SPICE BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKIN' OUTLAWS | |
| 4 | DIDY SMOKE IT | |
| 5 | Brisket Butts | |
| 6 | Honey & Hooch BBQ | |
| 7 | 333BBQ | |
| 8 | Slam Dunk BBQ | |
| 9 | Homestead Smoke Shack | |
| 10 | Just Katie | |
| 11 | Gettin' Sauced BBQ | |
| 12 | Notorious P.I.G. | |
| 13 | Kreiser Barbecue | |
| 14 | Q Cartel | |
| 15 | Mark's Meats and Treats | |
| 16 | SMOKAPALOOZA | |
| 17 | HOME COOKIN' BBQ | |
| 18 | ROKER Q | |
| 19 | KillerbunnyBBQ | |
| 20 | MEAT SWEATS BBQ AB | |
| 21 | Panther BBQ | |
| 22 | Fire BBQ | |
| 23 | Bad to the Brisket | |
| 24 | Bottle Hill BBQ | |
| 25 | Rack Addicts BBQ Team | |
| 26 | Elbow Grease | |
| 27 | EFFIN'EH GRAY'S |
Chicken
27 entries · top 176.5828 · median 166.2972
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bottle Hill BBQ | |
| 2 | DIDY SMOKE IT | |
| 3 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 4 | Slam Dunk BBQ | |
| 5 | Mark's Meats and Treats | |
| 6 | 333BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKIN' OUTLAWS | |
| 8 | Just Katie | |
| 9 | HOME COOKIN' BBQ | |
| 10 | PRAIRIE SMOKE & SPICE BBQ | |
| 11 | Notorious P.I.G. | |
| 12 | ROKER Q | |
| 13 | Q Cartel | |
| 14 | Kreiser Barbecue | |
| 15 | Brisket Butts | |
| 16 | Bad to the Brisket | |
| 17 | Honey & Hooch BBQ | |
| 18 | Homestead Smoke Shack | |
| 19 | Gettin' Sauced BBQ | |
| 20 | KillerbunnyBBQ | |
| 21 | Fire BBQ | |
| 22 | EFFIN'EH GRAY'S | |
| 23 | Panther BBQ | |
| 24 | MEAT SWEATS BBQ AB | |
| 25 | SMOKAPALOOZA | |
| 26 | Rack Addicts BBQ Team | |
| 27 | Elbow Grease |
Pork Ribs
27 entries · top 179.4400 · median 163.9656
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 2 | PRAIRIE SMOKE & SPICE BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKAPALOOZA | |
| 4 | Panther BBQ | |
| 5 | MEAT SWEATS BBQ AB | |
| 6 | 333BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKIN' OUTLAWS | |
| 8 | Slam Dunk BBQ | |
| 9 | KillerbunnyBBQ | |
| 10 | Honey & Hooch BBQ | |
| 11 | DIDY SMOKE IT | |
| 12 | Mark's Meats and Treats | |
| 13 | Kreiser Barbecue | |
| 14 | ROKER Q | |
| 15 | Bottle Hill BBQ | |
| 16 | HOME COOKIN' BBQ | |
| 17 | Q Cartel | |
| 18 | Gettin' Sauced BBQ | |
| 19 | Brisket Butts | |
| 20 | Rack Addicts BBQ Team | |
| 21 | Elbow Grease | |
| 22 | Bad to the Brisket | |
| 23 | Notorious P.I.G. | |
| 24 | Fire BBQ | |
| 25 | Just Katie | |
| 26 | Homestead Smoke Shack | |
| 27 | EFFIN'EH GRAY'S |
Pork
27 entries · top 177.7144 · median 169.1200
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brisket Butts | |
| 2 | PRAIRIE SMOKE & SPICE BBQ | |
| 3 | Homestead Smoke Shack | |
| 4 | SMOKIN' OUTLAWS | |
| 5 | Honey & Hooch BBQ | |
| 6 | DIDY SMOKE IT | |
| 7 | ROKER Q | |
| 8 | MEAT SWEATS BBQ AB | |
| 9 | Slam Dunk BBQ | |
| 10 | Q Cartel | |
| 11 | Gettin' Sauced BBQ | |
| 12 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 13 | SMOKAPALOOZA | |
| 14 | Just Katie | |
| 15 | HOME COOKIN' BBQ | |
| 16 | Notorious P.I.G. | |
| 17 | 333BBQ | |
| 18 | Panther BBQ | |
| 19 | Mark's Meats and Treats | |
| 20 | Bad to the Brisket | |
| 21 | Kreiser Barbecue | |
| 22 | Fire BBQ | |
| 23 | EFFIN'EH GRAY'S | |
| 24 | KillerbunnyBBQ | |
| 25 | Elbow Grease | |
| 26 | Bottle Hill BBQ | |
| 27 | Rack Addicts BBQ Team |
Brisket
27 entries · top 174.8572 · median 165.1088
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 2 | Kreiser Barbecue | |
| 3 | Fire BBQ | |
| 4 | Notorious P.I.G. | |
| 5 | Homestead Smoke Shack | |
| 6 | Gettin' Sauced BBQ | |
| 7 | KillerbunnyBBQ | |
| 8 | PRAIRIE SMOKE & SPICE BBQ | |
| 9 | Just Katie | |
| 10 | Brisket Butts | |
| 11 | SMOKIN' OUTLAWS | |
| 12 | Honey & Hooch BBQ | |
| 13 | DIDY SMOKE IT | |
| 14 | Rack Addicts BBQ Team | |
| 15 | SMOKAPALOOZA | |
| 16 | HOME COOKIN' BBQ | |
| 17 | 333BBQ | |
| 18 | Q Cartel | |
| 19 | Elbow Grease | |
| 20 | Mark's Meats and Treats | |
| 21 | Bad to the Brisket | |
| 22 | MEAT SWEATS BBQ AB | |
| 23 | Slam Dunk BBQ | |
| 24 | Panther BBQ | |
| 25 | ROKER Q | |
| 26 | EFFIN'EH GRAY'S | |
| 27 | Bottle Hill BBQ |
Grilling Series
Overall
15 entries · top 176.0000 · median 166.8800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PRAIRIE SMOKE & SPICE BBQ | |
| 2 | DIDY SMOKE IT | |
| 3 | Bad to the Brisket | |
| 4 | SMOKAPALOOZA | |
| 5 | Slam Dunk BBQ | |
| 6 | EFFIN'EH GRAY'S | |
| 7 | MEAT SWEATS BBQ AB | |
| 8 | ROKER Q | |
| 9 | HOME COOKIN' BBQ | |
| 10 | KillerbunnyBBQ | |
| 11 | Elbow Grease | |
| 12 | Brisket Butts | |
| 13 | Fire BBQ | |
| 14 | Rack Addicts BBQ Team | |
| 15 | Kreiser Barbecue |
Kids-Q
Pork
11 entries · top 178.2972 · median 169.7144
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lil Smoka's | |
| 2 | Lil Meat Sweats | |
| 3 | The Hawt Dawgs | |
| 4 | O Dawg | |
| 5 | Hunter Reagan | |
| 6 | 3000 Degrees | |
| 7 | Dexter Pearson | |
| 8 | Amber Reagan | |
| 9 | Lukas MacDonald | |
| 10 | Sylise Allen | |
| 11 | Sage Bierbach |
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 — Amateur Steak
8 entries · top 177.1544 · median 168.2570
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burn it Down | |
| 2 | Don't Have a Que | |
| 3 | Bar-B-Q | |
| 4 | Grilla Sistas | |
| 5 | A to BBQ | |
| 6 | T's Golf Grub | |
| 7 | Rubbed The Right Way | |
| 8 | CBC Q-ers |
Grilling Series — Steak
15 entries · top 176.0000 · median 166.8800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PRAIRIE SMOKE & SPICE BBQ | |
| 2 | DIDY SMOKE IT | |
| 3 | Bad to the Brisket | |
| 4 | SMOKAPALOOZA | |
| 5 | Slam Dunk BBQ | |
| 6 | EFFIN'EH GRAY'S | |
| 7 | MEAT SWEATS BBQ AB | |
| 8 | ROKER Q | |
| 9 | HOME COOKIN' BBQ | |
| 10 | KillerbunnyBBQ | |
| 11 | Elbow Grease | |
| 12 | Brisket Butts | |
| 13 | Fire BBQ | |
| 14 | Rack Addicts BBQ Team | |
| 15 | Kreiser Barbecue |