Apr 4–5, 2025 · Altoona, IA · 📍 2600 Adventureland Drive · State championship
Reps: Bunny Tuttle, Cindy Juhl, Rich Tuttle, Tom Juhl · Prize money: $10,000
Rack Shack bbq won Grand Champion at the Iowa State BBQ Championship on April 4, 2025 in Altoona, IA at 2600 Adventureland Drive, scoring 693.6460 in a field of 49 teams. Low Eye Que took Reserve Grand Champion with 693.0512. Category winners: Chicken — MACHETE BOYS BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — CHICK HUGGINS BBQ (178.8572); Pork — Matty Macks (178.8572); Brisket — IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ (177.1544). The Backyard Series standings were won by SMOKEY GQ with 354.2744. This is the 7th of 8 editions of this contest on record; the 2024 edition was won by Shiggin & Grinnin; the next was held in 2026.
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, 2013 to 2026 — 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 88% of the 4,714 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.5948 points — closer than 88% of every championship in the data.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 91 times in 100
Rack Shack bbq came in rated below the field's top team, JANKY LEG BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 9-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
Rack Shack bbq won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 2 calls from 4 boards, best of them 6th. Consistency beat fireworks.
Master Series — Pork Ribs places 5–6: SECOND HAND SMOKE - IA and Rack Shack bbq tied on 174.2744 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork Ribs places 7–8: Low Eye Que and UGLY BABY BBQ tied on 174.2628 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Pork places 2–3: SECOND HAND SMOKE - IA and MAN MEAT BBQ tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
All Smoked Up BBQ turned in 180.0000 in pork ribs — past the 179.4400 that had stood across 6 earlier editions.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Gothic Town Grillers (won 2023).
This contest usually draws about 38 teams
49 teams is the deepest field this contest has drawn in the data, against a typical 38.
2 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 21, 2013 | Marshalltown, IA | Marshalltown, IA | 28 | 693.7142 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ |
| Apr 1, 2022 | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | 48 | 689.6800 | Porkrastinators | Ash Kickin' BBQ |
| Apr 1, 2022 | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | 27 | 349.1200 | Damn Fine Beef and Swine | — |
| Apr 1, 2022 | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | — | — | — | — |
| Mar 31, 2023 | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | 47 | 699.4288 | Gothic Town Grillers | Fergolicious BBQ |
| Mar 29, 2024 | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | 42 | 701.1316 | Shiggin & Grinnin | Matty Macks |
| Apr 4, 2025 ← this one | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | 49 | 693.6460 | Rack Shack BBQ | Low Eye Que |
| Apr 3, 2026 | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | 42 | 709.7028 | Wag's Backwoods BBQ | Sugar Shack |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 180 | 177.1428 | 174.8456 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 174.2744 | 173.1084 |
| Master Series — Pork | 178.8572 | 177.1544 | 173.7028 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 177.1544 | 174.8456 | 173.1200 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 177.7144 | 175.4172 | 173.1200 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 180 | 175.4172 | 173.7028 |
49 entries · top 693.6460 · median 674.1944
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rack Shack bbq | |
| 2 | Low Eye Que | |
| 3 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 4 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 5 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 6 | Givey's Que | |
| 7 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine | |
| 8 | Luscious Loins | |
| 9 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 10 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 11 | SMOKEY D'S WANNABEES | |
| 12 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 13 | Matty Macks | |
| 14 | Sugar Shack | |
| 15 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 16 | SECOND HAND SMOKE - IA | |
| 17 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 18 | CHICK HUGGINS BBQ | |
| 19 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 20 | Smoke 'n Magic | |
| 21 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 22 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 23 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 24 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 25 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 26 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 27 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 28 | Good Grefe! | |
| 29 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 30 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 31 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 32 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 33 | Team No Clue BBQ | |
| 34 | Sky High BBQ | |
| 35 | WEEKEND BUM BBQ | |
| 36 | C&M BBQ | |
| 37 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 38 | Darty-Q | |
| 39 | SMACKIN' BUTTS BBQ, NE | |
| 40 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 41 | Smokin Suckers | |
| 42 | Brisket Butts | |
| 43 | PORK COUNTY BARBECUE | |
| 44 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 45 | QUE'S YER DADDY | |
| 46 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 47 | Grilluminati | |
| 48 | Team Carnivore | |
| 49 | JANKY LEG BBQ |
49 entries · top 180 · median 169.1200 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 2 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 3 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine | |
| 4 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 5 | SMACKIN' BUTTS BBQ, NE | |
| 6 | Smoke 'n Magic | |
| 7 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 8 | Rack Shack bbq | |
| 9 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 10 | Good Grefe! | |
| 11 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 12 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 13 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 14 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 15 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 16 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 17 | SMOKEY D'S WANNABEES | |
| 18 | Sky High BBQ | |
| 19 | Low Eye Que | |
| 20 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 21 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 22 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 23 | Luscious Loins | |
| 24 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 25 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 26 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 27 | Givey's Que | |
| 28 | QUE'S YER DADDY | |
| 29 | Darty-Q | |
| 30 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 31 | Sugar Shack | |
| 32 | Matty Macks | |
| 33 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 34 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 35 | Smokin Suckers | |
| 36 | SECOND HAND SMOKE - IA | |
| 37 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 38 | PORK COUNTY BARBECUE | |
| 39 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 40 | WEEKEND BUM BBQ | |
| 41 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 42 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 43 | Grilluminati | |
| 44 | Brisket Butts | |
| 45 | Team No Clue BBQ | |
| 46 | CHICK HUGGINS BBQ | |
| 47 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 48 | C&M BBQ | |
| 49 | Team Carnivore |
49 entries · top 178.8572 · median 169.1428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHICK HUGGINS BBQ | |
| 2 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine | |
| 3 | Darty-Q | |
| 4 | Givey's Que | |
| 5 | SECOND HAND SMOKE - IA | |
| 6 | Rack Shack bbq | |
| 7 | Low Eye Que | |
| 8 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 9 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 10 | SMOKEY D'S WANNABEES | |
| 11 | WEEKEND BUM BBQ | |
| 12 | Matty Macks | |
| 13 | Sugar Shack | |
| 14 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 15 | Luscious Loins | |
| 16 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 17 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 18 | Team No Clue BBQ | |
| 19 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 20 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 21 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 22 | Smoke 'n Magic | |
| 23 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 24 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 25 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 26 | SMACKIN' BUTTS BBQ, NE | |
| 27 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 28 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 29 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 30 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 31 | Smokin Suckers | |
| 32 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 33 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 34 | QUE'S YER DADDY | |
| 35 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 36 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 37 | C&M BBQ | |
| 38 | Grilluminati | |
| 39 | Sky High BBQ | |
| 40 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 41 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 42 | Good Grefe! | |
| 43 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 44 | Brisket Butts | |
| 45 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 46 | PORK COUNTY BARBECUE | |
| 47 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 48 | Team Carnivore | |
| 49 | BUCKSHOTBBQ |
48 entries · top 178.8572 · median 169.1372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matty Macks | |
| 2 | SECOND HAND SMOKE - IA | |
| 3 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 4 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 5 | Givey's Que | |
| 6 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 7 | Luscious Loins | |
| 8 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 9 | Low Eye Que | |
| 10 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 11 | Rack Shack bbq | |
| 12 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 13 | Sugar Shack | |
| 14 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 15 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 16 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 17 | C&M BBQ | |
| 18 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 19 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 20 | WEEKEND BUM BBQ | |
| 21 | Sky High BBQ | |
| 22 | SMOKEY D'S WANNABEES | |
| 23 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 24 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 25 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 26 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 27 | Smoke 'n Magic | |
| 28 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 29 | PORK COUNTY BARBECUE | |
| 30 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 31 | CHICK HUGGINS BBQ | |
| 32 | Good Grefe! | |
| 33 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 34 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine | |
| 35 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 36 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 37 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 38 | Team No Clue BBQ | |
| 39 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 40 | Brisket Butts | |
| 41 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 42 | QUE'S YER DADDY | |
| 43 | Team Carnivore | |
| 44 | Smokin Suckers | |
| 45 | Darty-Q | |
| 46 | SMACKIN' BUTTS BBQ, NE | |
| 47 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 48 | Grilluminati |
49 entries · top 177.1544 · median 166.2628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 2 | GOTHIC TOWN GRILLERS | |
| 3 | C&M BBQ | |
| 4 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 5 | WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ | |
| 6 | CHICK HUGGINS BBQ | |
| 7 | HOT DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 8 | TEAM CRAWFORD | |
| 9 | Team No Clue BBQ | |
| 10 | Low Eye Que | |
| 11 | Big Racks BBQ | |
| 12 | MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | |
| 13 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 14 | Bucknutz BBQ | |
| 15 | Good Grefe! | |
| 16 | Rack Shack bbq | |
| 17 | SMOKEHOUSE 72 | |
| 18 | Brisket Butts | |
| 19 | Sugar Shack | |
| 20 | NECTAR OF THE HOGS | |
| 21 | Givey's Que | |
| 22 | Smokin Suckers | |
| 23 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 24 | MACHETE BOYS BBQ | |
| 25 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 26 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine | |
| 27 | SMOKEY D'S WANNABEES | |
| 28 | Luscious Loins | |
| 29 | Son of a Boar BBQ | |
| 30 | SMACKIN' BUTTS BBQ, NE | |
| 31 | Darty-Q | |
| 32 | WHEN PIGS DIE | |
| 33 | Smoke 'n Magic | |
| 34 | Matty Macks | |
| 35 | SIX BUTT BBQ | |
| 36 | SECOND HAND SMOKE - IA | |
| 37 | Sky High BBQ | |
| 38 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 39 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 40 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 41 | PORK COUNTY BARBECUE | |
| 42 | 2 CASE BBQ | |
| 43 | HOME FARM BBQ | |
| 44 | WEEKEND BUM BBQ | |
| 45 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 46 | Grilluminati | |
| 47 | BUCKSHOTBBQ | |
| 48 | QUE'S YER DADDY | |
| 49 | Team Carnivore |
36 entries · top 354.2744 · median 337.6684
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKEY GQ | |
| 2 | The Bearded Bandits | |
| 3 | Bramble BBQ | |
| 4 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 5 | Swine-O-Licious BBQ | |
| 6 | E SQUARED BBQ | |
| 7 | DAWGS BBQ | |
| 8 | BBQ MIKE | |
| 9 | Too Sauced BBQ | |
| 10 | T-Dawg BBQ | |
| 11 | Skinny Pig BBQ | |
| 12 | Rudes BBQ | |
| 13 | Chester's Twisted Que | |
| 14 | Buck-Wild BBQ | |
| 15 | All Smoked Up BBQ | |
| 16 | HESSHOGS | |
| 17 | SmoQued On Main St | |
| 18 | Big Reds Backyard BBQ | |
| 19 | Poppin Smoke BBQ | |
| 20 | T Daddys BBQ | |
| 21 | Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que | |
| 22 | Family Tradition BBQ | |
| 23 | Bushwood BBQ | |
| 24 | Ro-Ro's Smokehouse | |
| 25 | 225 MAFIA | |
| 26 | BBQ Pit Bros | |
| 27 | Wapatui Smokers | |
| 28 | HORMONAL ESCAPE COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 29 | Slingin' Q | |
| 30 | Backroad BBQ | |
| 31 | Douds Mafia BBQ | |
| 32 | Heavy & Sweaty BBQ | |
| 33 | B&D BBQ | |
| 34 | BootsBBQ | |
| 35 | JK Smokin BBQ | |
| 36 | Shmack Q |
36 entries · top 177.7144 · median 170.2628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Bearded Bandits | |
| 2 | BBQ MIKE | |
| 3 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 4 | SMOKEY GQ | |
| 5 | Skinny Pig BBQ | |
| 6 | Bramble BBQ | |
| 7 | Swine-O-Licious BBQ | |
| 8 | Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que | |
| 9 | Too Sauced BBQ | |
| 10 | Chester's Twisted Que | |
| 11 | Douds Mafia BBQ | |
| 12 | T-Dawg BBQ | |
| 13 | Poppin Smoke BBQ | |
| 14 | Big Reds Backyard BBQ | |
| 15 | E SQUARED BBQ | |
| 16 | SmoQued On Main St | |
| 17 | DAWGS BBQ | |
| 18 | Buck-Wild BBQ | |
| 19 | HESSHOGS | |
| 20 | Rudes BBQ | |
| 21 | Family Tradition BBQ | |
| 22 | B&D BBQ | |
| 23 | 225 MAFIA | |
| 24 | Backroad BBQ | |
| 25 | HORMONAL ESCAPE COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 26 | BBQ Pit Bros | |
| 27 | BootsBBQ | |
| 28 | Bushwood BBQ | |
| 29 | Heavy & Sweaty BBQ | |
| 30 | Wapatui Smokers | |
| 31 | T Daddys BBQ | |
| 32 | Shmack Q | |
| 33 | All Smoked Up BBQ | |
| 34 | Ro-Ro's Smokehouse | |
| 35 | Slingin' Q | |
| 36 | JK Smokin BBQ |
35 entries · top 180 · median 169.1200 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | All Smoked Up BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKEY GQ | |
| 3 | E SQUARED BBQ | |
| 4 | Bramble BBQ | |
| 5 | Swine-O-Licious BBQ | |
| 6 | The Bearded Bandits | |
| 7 | DAWGS BBQ | |
| 8 | T Daddys BBQ | |
| 9 | Rudes BBQ | |
| 10 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | |
| 11 | T-Dawg BBQ | |
| 12 | Too Sauced BBQ | |
| 13 | Buck-Wild BBQ | |
| 14 | Ro-Ro's Smokehouse | |
| 15 | HESSHOGS | |
| 16 | Bushwood BBQ | |
| 17 | Chester's Twisted Que | |
| 18 | Skinny Pig BBQ | |
| 19 | SmoQued On Main St | |
| 20 | BBQ MIKE | |
| 21 | Slingin' Q | |
| 22 | Big Reds Backyard BBQ | |
| 23 | Poppin Smoke BBQ | |
| 24 | Wapatui Smokers | |
| 25 | 225 MAFIA | |
| 26 | Family Tradition BBQ | |
| 27 | BBQ Pit Bros | |
| 28 | Heavy & Sweaty BBQ | |
| 29 | Too Sauced Guys Bar-B-Que | |
| 30 | HORMONAL ESCAPE COMPETITION BBQ | |
| 31 | JK Smokin BBQ | |
| 32 | Backroad BBQ | |
| 33 | BootsBBQ | |
| 34 | B&D BBQ | |
| 35 | Douds Mafia BBQ |