A new contest record
707.3944
highest overall ever cooked here
707.3944 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 702.2972 SMOKEY HOG ISLAND LUV set in 2016.
- old record 702.2972
- set 2016 by SMOKEY HOG ISLAND LUV
Smoke on the River 2024
Aug 31 – Sep 1, 2024 · Burlington, KS · 📍 625 S. 3rd St. · State championship
Reps: Larry Voth, Lynda Voth · Prize money: $9,350
SLAPS BBQ won Grand Champion at the Smoke on the River on August 31, 2024 in Burlington, KS at 625 S. 3rd St., scoring 707.3944 in a field of 28 teams. Can Country Outlaw BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 698.8000. Category winners: Chicken — Dr. Squealgood BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — Meat Candy Q (178.8572); Pork — B 3 BBQ (180.0000); Brisket — SLAPS BBQ (178.8572). This is the 8th of 13 editions of this contest on record; the 2023 edition was won by GETTIN' BASTED; the next was held in 2024.
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.
646.07
median 688.19
707.39 🏆
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 180 🔥
- Brisket 178.86
151.38
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
28
4 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
707.3944
Winning margin
8.5944
GC over RC
Field average
681.16
646.07707.39
median 688.19 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Chicken
3.4400 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
692.5144
646.07707.39
10th place overall
Field spread
61.3256
winner to last place
Prize money
$9,350
on the line
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 8%
beats 92% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
40%
8 of 20 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.73 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,652
avg power rating going in · stronger than 96% of contests
Storylines (7 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.
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 13 tracked editions
SMOKEY HOG ISLAND LUV has won this contest 2 times across its 13 tracked editions.
- 2014
- 2016
A stacked field
1652
average power rating going in
Stronger than 96% of every rated contest
The field averaged a 1652 power rating going in — stronger than 96% of every contest tracked.
- top seed JANKY LEG BBQ (1952)
- 28 rated teams
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 17 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 4–5: TORNADO BBQ and B 3 BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 5–6: B 3 BBQ and SLAPS BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 7–8: PIGGIN' WHISKEY and BrewsCue tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 4–5 · tie
- Chicken 5–6 · tie
- Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Chicken 8–9 · tie
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
SLAPS BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was chicken at 6th.
- Chicken 6th
- Pork Ribs 6th
- Pork 4th
- Brisket 1st
A contest record in brisket
178.8572
best brisket ever cooked here
SLAPS BBQ turned in 178.8572 in brisket — past the 177.7144 that had stood across 7 earlier editions.
- old best 177.7144
- across 7 past editions
A perfect score on the table
2
perfect 180s
2 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- Dr. Squealgood BBQ · Chicken
- B 3 BBQ · Pork
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 6, 2013 | Quincy, IL | Quincy, IL | 28 | 684.5368 | GILLY'S BBQ | THE SMOKING HILLS |
| Sep 5, 2014 | Quincy, IL | Quincy, IL 62301 | 21 | 685.7260 | ONE2BBQ | SMOKIN' BUTTS |
| Sep 5, 2014 | Sacramento, CA | Sacramento, CA 95818 | 26 | 687.3484 | SMOKEY HOG ISLAND LUV | MY SMOKIN GRILLFRIEND |
| Sep 18, 2015 | Sacramento, CA | Sacramento, CA 95816 | 49 | 678.2856 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | MY SMOKIN GRILLFRIEND |
| Oct 14, 2016 | Sacramento, CA | Miller Park, 2710 Ramp Wa | 38 | 702.2972 | SMOKEY HOG ISLAND LUV | TOO ASHAMED TO NAME |
| Sep 16, 2022 | Burlington, KS | 625 S. 3rd St. | 6 | 344.5828 | TOO SAUCED BBQ | — |
| Sep 1, 2023 | Burlington, KS | 625 S. 3rd St. | 20 | 699.9544 | GETTIN' BASTED | JANKY LEG BBQ |
| Aug 31, 2024 ← this one | Burlington, KS | 625 S. 3rd St. | 28 | 707.3944 | Slaps BBQ | Can Country Outlaw BBQ |
| Aug 31, 2024 | Burlington, KS | 625 S. 3rd St. | 13 | 175.4288 | B3 BBQ | — |
| Aug 29, 2025 | Burlington, KS | 625 S. 3rd St. | 25 | 706.2516 | SQUEALIN N DEALIN BBQ | Glamping Grillers |
| Aug 30, 2025 | Burlington, KS | 625 S. 3rd St. | 24 | 707.3712 | BOCEPHUS BBQ | JDQ BBQ |
| Sep 4, 2026 | Burlington, KS | 625 S. 3rd St. | 25 | 708.5372 | Janky Leg BBQ | Bocephus BBQ |
| Sep 5, 2026 | Burlington, KS | 625 S. 3rd St. | 25 | 709.6800 | Janky Leg BBQ | Triple H BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 176.5600 | 175.4172 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 175.4172 | 173.1200 |
| Pork | 180 | 175.4056 | 173.1200 |
| Brisket | 178.8572 | 173.1084 | 171.4056 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
28 entries · top 707.3944 · median 688.1940
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 2 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 3 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 4 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 5 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 6 | MUNNY'S STOVE | |
| 7 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 8 | BrewsCue | |
| 9 | B 3 BBQ | |
| 10 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 11 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 12 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine | |
| 13 | Dr. Squealgood BBQ | |
| 14 | Ambition Que | |
| 15 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 16 | Bocephus BBQ | |
| 17 | Bourbon Bent BBQ | |
| 18 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 19 | Cities Edge BBQ | |
| 20 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 21 | M2 Smokin' Q | |
| 22 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 23 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 24 | SAUCE BOSSES | |
| 25 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 26 | TORNADO BBQ | |
| 27 | Split Borders BBQ | |
| 28 | In Deep Sauce BBQ Team |
Chicken
28 entries · top 180 · median 173.9828 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Squealgood BBQ | |
| 2 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 3 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine | |
| 4 | TORNADO BBQ | |
| 5 | B 3 BBQ | |
| 6 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 7 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 8 | BrewsCue | |
| 9 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 10 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 11 | MUNNY'S STOVE | |
| 12 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 13 | Ambition Que | |
| 14 | Bocephus BBQ | |
| 15 | Bourbon Bent BBQ | |
| 16 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 17 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 18 | M2 Smokin' Q | |
| 19 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 20 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 21 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 22 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 23 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 24 | Cities Edge BBQ | |
| 25 | SAUCE BOSSES | |
| 26 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 27 | In Deep Sauce BBQ Team | |
| 28 | Split Borders BBQ |
Pork Ribs
28 entries · top 178.8572 · median 170.8170
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 2 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine | |
| 3 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 4 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 5 | Cities Edge BBQ | |
| 6 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 7 | BrewsCue | |
| 8 | MUNNY'S STOVE | |
| 9 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 10 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 11 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 12 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 13 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 14 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 15 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 16 | Ambition Que | |
| 17 | B 3 BBQ | |
| 18 | Dr. Squealgood BBQ | |
| 19 | M2 Smokin' Q | |
| 20 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 21 | Bourbon Bent BBQ | |
| 22 | Bocephus BBQ | |
| 23 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 24 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 25 | In Deep Sauce BBQ Team | |
| 26 | Split Borders BBQ | |
| 27 | SAUCE BOSSES | |
| 28 | TORNADO BBQ |
Pork
28 entries · top 180 · median 171.9886 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B 3 BBQ | |
| 2 | Bocephus BBQ | |
| 3 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 4 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 5 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 6 | Dr. Squealgood BBQ | |
| 7 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 8 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 9 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 10 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 11 | MUNNY'S STOVE | |
| 12 | BrewsCue | |
| 13 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 14 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 15 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 16 | Ambition Que | |
| 17 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 18 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 19 | Split Borders BBQ | |
| 20 | Bourbon Bent BBQ | |
| 21 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine | |
| 22 | SAUCE BOSSES | |
| 23 | Cities Edge BBQ | |
| 24 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 25 | TORNADO BBQ | |
| 26 | M2 Smokin' Q | |
| 27 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 28 | In Deep Sauce BBQ Team |
Brisket
28 entries · top 178.8572 · median 170.2628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SLAPS BBQ | |
| 2 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | |
| 3 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 4 | Ambition Que | |
| 5 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 6 | PIGGIN' WHISKEY | |
| 7 | MUNNY'S STOVE | |
| 8 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 9 | Meat Candy Q | |
| 10 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 11 | Bourbon Bent BBQ | |
| 12 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 13 | BrewsCue | |
| 14 | SAUCE BOSSES | |
| 15 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 16 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 17 | M2 Smokin' Q | |
| 18 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine | |
| 19 | Split Borders BBQ | |
| 20 | Bocephus BBQ | |
| 21 | B 3 BBQ | |
| 22 | In Deep Sauce BBQ Team | |
| 23 | Dr. Squealgood BBQ | |
| 24 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 25 | Cities Edge BBQ | |
| 26 | Bourbon & Blues BBQ | |
| 27 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 28 | TORNADO 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 — Kid'Sq 8th Grade & Under
3 entries · top 178.2972 · median 174.2628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MINI MEAT BBQ | |
| 2 | A SMOKY HAYS | |
| 3 | Blaz'n Weasel 2 |