Iowa State BBQ Championship
2025-04-04 – 2025-04-05 · Altoona, IA · 📍 2600 Adventureland Drive · State championship
Reps: BUNNY TUTTLE, CINDY JUHL, RICH TUTTLE, TOM JUHL · Prize money: $10,000.00
Grand Champion: Rack Shack BBQ (693.6460) · 49 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 Low Eye Que
Entries
49
6 judged meats
Top score
693.6460
Winning margin
0.5948
GC over RC
Field average
665.96
median 674.19
Tightest race
Pork
1.7028 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
681.0516
10th place overall
Field spread
186.2860
winner to last place
Prize money
$10,000.00
on the line
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 76%
beats 24% of 1951 Master Series wins in the data
Traveled in
60%
of the 85 teams with a home region came from outside IA
Came back for more
57%
51 of 89 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Weak
ρ = -0.28 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1583
avg power rating going in · stronger than 82% of contests
Storylines
🪒 A razor-thin finish
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.5948 points — closer than 86% of every championship in the data.
🧳 Out-of-towners took the title
Rack Shack bbq took the Grand Championship home to MN.
📸 Photo finishes
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.
🛡️ Back to defend
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Gothic Town Grillers (won 2023).
🃏 An upset on the books
Rack Shack bbq came in rated below the field's top team, JANKY LEG BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 10-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-06-21 | Marshalltown, IA | 28 | 693.7142 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 2022-04-01 | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | 48 | 689.6800 | Porkrastinators | Ash Kickin' BBQ |
| 2022-04-01 | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | 27 | 349.1200 | Damn Fine Beef and Swine | — |
| 2022-04-01 | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | — | — | — | — |
| 2023-03-31 | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | 47 | 699.4288 | Gothic Town Grillers | Fergolicious BBQ |
| 2024-03-29 | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | 42 | 701.1316 | Shiggin & Grinnin | Matty Macks |
| 2025-04-04 ← this one | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | 49 | 693.6460 | Rack Shack BBQ | Low Eye Que |
| 2026-04-03 | Altoona, IA | 2600 Adventureland Drive | 42 | 709.7028 | Wag's Backwoods BBQ | Sugar Shack |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 180.0000 | 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 | 180.0000 | 175.4172 | 173.7028 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
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 |
Chicken
49 entries · top 180.0000 · 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 |
Pork Ribs
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 |
Pork
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 |
Brisket
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 |
Backyard Series
Overall
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 |
Chicken
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 |
Pork Ribs
35 entries · top 180.0000 · 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 |