Tri City BBQ Fest
2024-09-20 – 2024-09-21 · Denison, IA · 📍 109 N. Main · State championship
Reps: DAVE ROGERS, PEG ROGERS · Prize money: $12,400.00
Grand Champion: HOT DADDY'S BBQ (700.4912) · 30 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ
Entries
30
6 judged meats
Top score
700.4912
Winning margin
5.1312
GC over RC
Field average
671.95
median 672.16
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Chicken
2.2856 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
682.1712
10th place overall
Field spread
77.2912
winner to last place
Prize money
$12,400.00
on the line
Double threats
8
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 47%
beats 53% of 1951 Master Series wins in the data
Traveled in
51%
of the 39 teams with a home region came from outside IA
Came back for more
56%
22 of 39 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.36 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1563
avg power rating going in · stronger than 68% of contests
Storylines
👑 A dynasty in the making
TIMBONE BARBECUE has won this contest 2 times across its 11 tracked editions.
🧹 A double category winner
Too Sauced BBQ won Chicken, Pork Ribs — a double.
📸 Photo finishes
Master Series — Chicken places 9–10: HELPING U BBQ and Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ tied on 172.5484 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork Ribs places 3–4: Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ and WELL SAUCED BBQ tied on 173.7144 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork Ribs places 5–6: Smokin Suckers and Smokin Reefer BBQ tied on 173.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
🛡️ Back to defend
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: SPITFIRE (won 2017), Hot Daddys BBQ (won 2021).
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)
Where the field came from (home regions on file)
This contest over the years full contest page →
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-09-19 | Denison, IA 51442 | 21 | 691.3940 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 2015-09-18 | Denison, IA 51442 | 18 | 690.7884 | PORKY BUTTS BBQ | BIG T'Z Q CRU | |
| 2016-09-16 | Broodway & Main | 34 | 701.6800 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 2017-09-22 | Broadway & Main St. (Historic Uptown Denison) | 37 | 702.3204 | SPITFIRE | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 2018-09-21 | Broadway & Main St. (Historic Uptown Denison) | 27 | 687.9888 | TIMBONE BARBECUE | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 2019-09-20 | Denison, IA | Broadway & Main St. (Historic Uptown Denison) | 34 | 690.7540 | Timbone Barbecue | SPITFIRE |
| 2021-09-17 | Denison, IA | Broadway and Main | 20 | 697.6572 | Hot Daddys BBQ | SPITFIRE |
| 2022-09-16 | Denison, IA | Broadway and Main | 25 | 693.1316 | Parrothead Smokers SD | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ |
| 2023-09-15 | Denison, IA | Broadway and Main | 32 | 703.3712 | Last Call Heros BBQ | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN |
| 2024-09-20 ← this one | Denison, IA | 109 N. Main | 30 | 700.4912 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ |
| 2025-09-19 | Denison, IA | 109 N. Main | 26 | 703.4060 | Shiggin & Grinnin | Good Grefe! |
| 2026-09-18 | Denison, IA | — | — | — | — | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 177.7028 | 175.4172 | 172.5484 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 176.5600 | 173.1200 | 171.9656 |
| Master Series — Pork | 178.8572 | 176.5600 | 171.9772 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 177.7144 | 175.4172 | 171.9772 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 174.8456 | 165.6800 | — |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 173.1428 | 167.4516 | — |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
30 entries · top 700.4912 · median 672.1600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 2 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 3 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 4 | Mr. Dudes BBQ | |
| 5 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 6 | Low Eye Que | |
| 7 | SPITFIRE | |
| 8 | Smokin Reefer BBQ | |
| 9 | MadChad's BBQ | |
| 10 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 11 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 12 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 13 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 14 | TEAM NO CLUE BBQ | |
| 15 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 16 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 17 | HELPING U BBQ | |
| 18 | SCORE ONE SMOKIN' | |
| 19 | Smokin Suckers | |
| 20 | Big Cat BBQ | |
| 21 | Good Grefe! | |
| 22 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 23 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 24 | SWEET SMOKIN' JONES BBQ | |
| 25 | Daddy Dutch BBQ | |
| 26 | WELL SAUCED BBQ | |
| 27 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 28 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 29 | CASUAL SMOKERS | |
| 30 | SMOKE DOCTOR |
Chicken
30 entries · top 177.7028 · median 169.3942
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 2 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 3 | Mr. Dudes BBQ | |
| 4 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 5 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 6 | Low Eye Que | |
| 7 | SPITFIRE | |
| 8 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 9 | HELPING U BBQ | |
| 10 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 11 | Smokin Reefer BBQ | |
| 12 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 13 | Good Grefe! | |
| 14 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 15 | Daddy Dutch BBQ | |
| 16 | MadChad's BBQ | |
| 17 | WELL SAUCED BBQ | |
| 18 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 19 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 20 | SCORE ONE SMOKIN' | |
| 21 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 22 | SMOKE DOCTOR | |
| 23 | Smokin Suckers | |
| 24 | CASUAL SMOKERS | |
| 25 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 26 | SWEET SMOKIN' JONES BBQ | |
| 27 | Big Cat BBQ | |
| 28 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 29 | TEAM NO CLUE BBQ | |
| 30 | Bucknutz BBQ |
Pork Ribs
30 entries · top 176.5600 · median 167.6916
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 2 | TEAM NO CLUE BBQ | |
| 3 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 4 | WELL SAUCED BBQ | |
| 5 | Smokin Suckers | |
| 6 | Smokin Reefer BBQ | |
| 7 | MadChad's BBQ | |
| 8 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 9 | Good Grefe! | |
| 10 | Mr. Dudes BBQ | |
| 11 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 12 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 13 | SPITFIRE | |
| 14 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 15 | SCORE ONE SMOKIN' | |
| 16 | HELPING U BBQ | |
| 17 | Big Cat BBQ | |
| 18 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 19 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 20 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 21 | Daddy Dutch BBQ | |
| 22 | CASUAL SMOKERS | |
| 23 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 24 | SWEET SMOKIN' JONES BBQ | |
| 25 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 26 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 27 | Low Eye Que | |
| 28 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 29 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 30 | SMOKE DOCTOR |
Pork
30 entries · top 178.8572 · median 169.3942
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 2 | Low Eye Que | |
| 3 | Smokin Reefer BBQ | |
| 4 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 5 | Mr. Dudes BBQ | |
| 6 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 7 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 8 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 9 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 10 | SPITFIRE | |
| 11 | SCORE ONE SMOKIN' | |
| 12 | MadChad's BBQ | |
| 13 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 14 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 15 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 16 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 17 | WELL SAUCED BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 19 | Daddy Dutch BBQ | |
| 20 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 21 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 22 | SWEET SMOKIN' JONES BBQ | |
| 23 | CASUAL SMOKERS | |
| 24 | HELPING U BBQ | |
| 25 | Good Grefe! | |
| 26 | TEAM NO CLUE BBQ | |
| 27 | Smokin Suckers | |
| 28 | Big Cat BBQ | |
| 29 | SMOKE DOCTOR | |
| 30 | BUCKSHOTBBQ |
Brisket
30 entries · top 177.7144 · median 170.5428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Eye Que | |
| 2 | TEAM NO CLUE BBQ | |
| 3 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 4 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 5 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 6 | Big Cat BBQ | |
| 7 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 8 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 9 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 10 | MadChad's BBQ | |
| 11 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 12 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 13 | Chillin N Grillin N Iowa BBQ | |
| 14 | GRILLIN' GRINDES | |
| 15 | SPITFIRE | |
| 16 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 17 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 18 | Smokin Suckers | |
| 19 | Mr. Dudes BBQ | |
| 20 | SWEET SMOKIN' JONES BBQ | |
| 21 | HELPING U BBQ | |
| 22 | Smokin Reefer BBQ | |
| 23 | SCORE ONE SMOKIN' | |
| 24 | Good Grefe! | |
| 25 | Daddy Dutch BBQ | |
| 26 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 27 | CASUAL SMOKERS | |
| 28 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 29 | SMOKE DOCTOR | |
| 30 | WELL SAUCED BBQ |
Backyard Series
Overall
9 entries · top 347.9884 · median 332.5028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Too Sauced BBQ | |
| 2 | BBQ Pit Bros | |
| 3 | Bramble BBQ | |
| 4 | Bar-Down BBQ | |
| 5 | Backroad BBQ | |
| 6 | 901 Q | |
| 7 | SMOKIN Bs | |
| 8 | Grill Em All | |
| 9 | SMOKIN DEVIL DOGS |
Chicken
9 entries · top 174.8456 · median 165.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Too Sauced BBQ | |
| 2 | 901 Q | |
| 3 | Bar-Down BBQ | |
| 4 | BBQ Pit Bros | |
| 5 | Grill Em All | |
| 6 | Bramble BBQ | |
| 7 | Backroad BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKIN DEVIL DOGS | |
| 9 | SMOKIN Bs |
Pork Ribs
9 entries · top 173.1428 · median 167.4516
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Too Sauced BBQ | |
| 2 | BBQ Pit Bros | |
| 3 | Bramble BBQ | |
| 4 | Backroad BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN Bs | |
| 6 | Bar-Down BBQ | |
| 7 | Grill Em All | |
| 8 | 901 Q | |
| 9 | SMOKIN DEVIL DOGS |