A KCBS record was set here
180
one meat, out of 180
BIG T'Z Q CRU holds the KCBS record for highest pork ribs score — 180 one meat, out of 180, won the category with it, set right here. Nobody has beaten it since.
- Highest pork ribs score
Med City BBQ & Musicfest 2013
Aug 9–10, 2013 · Rochester, MN
GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA won Grand Champion at the Med City BBQ & Musicfest on August 9, 2013 in Rochester, MN, scoring 690.8000 in a field of 50 teams. QUAU took Reserve Grand Champion with 690.2740. Category winners: Chicken — BIG T'Z Q CRU (177.1428); Pork Ribs — BIG T'Z Q CRU (180.0000); Pork — PIGSKIN BBQ (179.4400); Brisket — GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA (180.0000). This is the 1st of 3 editions of this contest on record; the next was held in 2014.
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.
151.97
median 648.97
690.80 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 177.14
- Pork Ribs 180 🔥
- Pork 179.44
- Brisket 180 🔥
113.04
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2015 — this edition picked out.
Entries
49
4 judged meats
Top score
690.8000
Winning margin
0.5260
GC over RC
Field average
619.15
151.97690.80
median 648.97 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Brisket
3.9656 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
677.5884
151.97690.80
10th place overall
Field spread
538.8344
winner to last place
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 69%
beats 31% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.75 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,529
avg power rating going in · stronger than 21% 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 razor-thin finish
0.5260
points between champion and reserve
Closer than 94% of the 4,714 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.5260 points — closer than 94% of every championship in the data.
- GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA
- QUAU
An upset on the books
35-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 65 times in 100
GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA came in rated below the field's top team, TRUEBUD BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 35-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1603
- top seed 1712
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 8 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 1–2: BIG T'Z Q CRU and GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA tied on 177.1428 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 4–5: SPITFIRE and LUCKY'S Q tied on 173.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 5–6: LUCKY'S Q and TWOLITTLEPIGSBBQ.COM tied on 173.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 1–2 · tie
- Pork 4–5 · tie
- Pork 5–6 · tie
- Pork Ribs 3–4 · 0.0116
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
BIG T'Z Q CRU won Chicken, Pork Ribs — a double.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 1st
How the title was won
2 of 4
meats called to the stage
GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA took the title on 2 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork at 14th.
- Chicken 2nd
- Pork Ribs 12th
- Pork 14th
- Brisket 1st
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.
- GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA · Brisket
- BIG T'Z Q CRU · Pork Ribs
Records set here — 1 still standing (1 in the KCBS record book)
What happened at this contest that stands in the all-time KCBS record book. A gold line is a record nobody has beaten.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 9, 2013 ← this one | Rochester, MN | Rochester, MN | 50 | 690.8000 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | QUAU |
| Aug 8, 2014 | Rochester, MN | Rochester, MN 55902 | 40 | 688.4684 | BIG CHAIN BBQ GANG | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA |
| Aug 7, 2015 | Rochester, MN | Rochester, MN 55963 | 47 | 687.9200 | TOTALLY SAUCED | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.1428 | 173.1200 | 171.4056 |
| Pork Ribs | 180 | 174.2628 | 168 |
| Pork | 179.4400 | 173.7028 | 169.6800 |
| Brisket | 180 | 176.0344 | 171.4056 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
49 entries · top 690.8000 · median 648.9712
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 2 | QUAU | |
| 3 | SPITFIRE | |
| 4 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 5 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | |
| 6 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 7 | CITY SLICKERS BBQ | |
| 8 | BLACK DOG BBQ IA | |
| 9 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 10 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | |
| 11 | Wine & Swine BBQ | |
| 12 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 13 | TRUEBUD BBQ | |
| 14 | HOGLINE | |
| 15 | COOKS BAY BBQ | |
| 16 | SUBTLE SMOKE | |
| 17 | LERMON BBQ | |
| 18 | STOCKCAR BBQ | |
| 19 | HERE PIGGY PIGGY BBQ | |
| 20 | BIG CITY BBQ | |
| 21 | TWOLITTLEPIGSBBQ.COM | |
| 22 | We Be Porken | |
| 23 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 24 | C R BUTTS SMOKE | |
| 25 | Swung Like a Horse | |
| 26 | GRUMPY OLD MEN BBQ | |
| 27 | FNG BBQ | |
| 28 | SASSY'S BBQ | |
| 29 | Locks Blocks BBQ | |
| 30 | Johnny Rockets BBQ | |
| 31 | SMOKING BARREL BBQ & ROADHOUSE | |
| 32 | Savory Butts & Thighs | |
| 33 | Tru Q Brothers BBQ | |
| 34 | CIGAR B QUE | |
| 35 | BIG WOOD BBQ | |
| 36 | PIG APPROVED BBQ | |
| 37 | Meato Banditos | |
| 38 | BIG BOY SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 39 | Felonious BBQ | |
| 40 | YANKEE ROAD KILL BBQ. | |
| 41 | WOLFSEEKER SMOKE-N-BBQ | |
| 42 | Q's Ur Daddy | |
| 44 | JJ Barbeque Experience | |
| 45 | SMOKE DYNASTY | |
| 46 | We Make It Do What It Do | |
| 47 | BT BBQ | |
| 48 | Smokin' Jonny Ribeyezz | |
| 49 | Session BBQ | |
| 50 | SMOKIN TURTLE BBQ |
Chicken
46 entries · top 177.1428 · median 165.4112
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | |
| 2 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 3 | SUBTLE SMOKE | |
| 4 | SPITFIRE | |
| 5 | TRUEBUD BBQ | |
| 6 | QUAU | |
| 7 | BLACK DOG BBQ IA | |
| 8 | GRUMPY OLD MEN BBQ | |
| 9 | FNG BBQ | |
| 10 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | |
| 11 | HOGLINE | |
| 12 | SMOKING BARREL BBQ & ROADHOUSE | |
| 13 | BIG CITY BBQ | |
| 14 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 15 | Wine & Swine BBQ | |
| 16 | CIGAR B QUE | |
| 17 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 18 | TWOLITTLEPIGSBBQ.COM | |
| 19 | LERMON BBQ | |
| 20 | We Be Porken | |
| 21 | Savory Butts & Thighs | |
| 22 | HERE PIGGY PIGGY BBQ | |
| 23 | COOKS BAY BBQ | |
| 24 | Felonious BBQ | |
| 25 | SASSY'S BBQ | |
| 26 | YANKEE ROAD KILL BBQ. | |
| 27 | STOCKCAR BBQ | |
| 28 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 29 | CITY SLICKERS BBQ | |
| 30 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 31 | Johnny Rockets BBQ | |
| 32 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 33 | Locks Blocks BBQ | |
| 34 | Meato Banditos | |
| 35 | Tru Q Brothers BBQ | |
| 36 | WOLFSEEKER SMOKE-N-BBQ | |
| 37 | BIG WOOD BBQ | |
| 38 | We Make It Do What It Do | |
| 39 | C R BUTTS SMOKE | |
| 40 | PIG APPROVED BBQ | |
| 41 | Swung Like a Horse | |
| 43 | BIG BOY SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 44 | Q's Ur Daddy | |
| 45 | SMOKE DYNASTY | |
| 46 | JJ Barbeque Experience | |
| 47 | BT BBQ |
Pork Ribs
49 entries · top 180 · median 160 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | |
| 2 | SPITFIRE | |
| 3 | CITY SLICKERS BBQ | |
| 4 | We Be Porken | |
| 5 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 6 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 7 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | |
| 8 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 9 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 10 | QUAU | |
| 11 | Wine & Swine BBQ | |
| 12 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 13 | BLACK DOG BBQ IA | |
| 14 | Swung Like a Horse | |
| 15 | Locks Blocks BBQ | |
| 16 | TRUEBUD BBQ | |
| 17 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 18 | SUBTLE SMOKE | |
| 19 | BIG CITY BBQ | |
| 20 | Meato Banditos | |
| 21 | C R BUTTS SMOKE | |
| 22 | STOCKCAR BBQ | |
| 23 | SMOKING BARREL BBQ & ROADHOUSE | |
| 24 | HOGLINE | |
| 25 | Smokin' Jonny Ribeyezz | |
| 26 | COOKS BAY BBQ | |
| 27 | GRUMPY OLD MEN BBQ | |
| 28 | SASSY'S BBQ | |
| 29 | BIG BOY SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 30 | CIGAR B QUE | |
| 31 | FNG BBQ | |
| 32 | Johnny Rockets BBQ | |
| 33 | BIG WOOD BBQ | |
| 34 | TWOLITTLEPIGSBBQ.COM | |
| 35 | Savory Butts & Thighs | |
| 36 | LERMON BBQ | |
| 37 | Q's Ur Daddy | |
| 38 | PIG APPROVED BBQ | |
| 39 | Tru Q Brothers BBQ | |
| 40 | HERE PIGGY PIGGY BBQ | |
| 41 | SMOKIN TURTLE BBQ | |
| 42 | Session BBQ | |
| 43 | Felonious BBQ | |
| 45 | JJ Barbeque Experience | |
| 46 | YANKEE ROAD KILL BBQ. | |
| 47 | SMOKE DYNASTY | |
| 48 | BT BBQ | |
| 49 | WOLFSEEKER SMOKE-N-BBQ | |
| 50 | We Make It Do What It Do |
Pork
47 entries · top 179.4400 · median 163.9884
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 2 | Savory Butts & Thighs | |
| 3 | WOLFSEEKER SMOKE-N-BBQ | |
| 4 | SPITFIRE | |
| 5 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 6 | TWOLITTLEPIGSBBQ.COM | |
| 7 | COOKS BAY BBQ | |
| 8 | QUAU | |
| 9 | LERMON BBQ | |
| 10 | SUBTLE SMOKE | |
| 11 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | |
| 12 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 13 | CIGAR B QUE | |
| 14 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 15 | TRUEBUD BBQ | |
| 17 | FNG BBQ | |
| 18 | Wine & Swine BBQ | |
| 19 | Swung Like a Horse | |
| 20 | PIG APPROVED BBQ | |
| 21 | Tru Q Brothers BBQ | |
| 22 | Locks Blocks BBQ | |
| 23 | CITY SLICKERS BBQ | |
| 24 | Q's Ur Daddy | |
| 25 | BLACK DOG BBQ IA | |
| 26 | STOCKCAR BBQ | |
| 27 | HOGLINE | |
| 28 | SMOKING BARREL BBQ & ROADHOUSE | |
| 29 | HERE PIGGY PIGGY BBQ | |
| 30 | We Be Porken | |
| 31 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 32 | YANKEE ROAD KILL BBQ. | |
| 33 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | |
| 34 | C R BUTTS SMOKE | |
| 35 | GRUMPY OLD MEN BBQ | |
| 36 | JJ Barbeque Experience | |
| 37 | BIG WOOD BBQ | |
| 38 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 39 | SASSY'S BBQ | |
| 40 | BT BBQ | |
| 41 | Johnny Rockets BBQ | |
| 42 | BIG CITY BBQ | |
| 43 | BIG BOY SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 44 | Felonious BBQ | |
| 45 | Session BBQ | |
| 46 | Meato Banditos | |
| 47 | We Make It Do What It Do | |
| 48 | SMOKE DYNASTY |
Brisket
46 entries · top 180 · median 160.2800 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 2 | CITY SLICKERS BBQ | |
| 3 | QUAU | |
| 4 | DRY 2 DA BONE | |
| 5 | BLACK DOG BBQ IA | |
| 6 | HERE PIGGY PIGGY BBQ | |
| 7 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 8 | Wine & Swine BBQ | |
| 9 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 10 | C R BUTTS SMOKE | |
| 11 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 12 | LERMON BBQ | |
| 13 | STOCKCAR BBQ | |
| 14 | Johnny Rockets BBQ | |
| 15 | BIG T'Z Q CRU | |
| 16 | SPITFIRE | |
| 17 | BIG CITY BBQ | |
| 18 | SASSY'S BBQ | |
| 19 | TIPPYCANOE BBQ CREW | |
| 20 | Swung Like a Horse | |
| 21 | HOGLINE | |
| 22 | TRUEBUD BBQ | |
| 23 | COOKS BAY BBQ | |
| 24 | Smokin' Jonny Ribeyezz | |
| 25 | Meato Banditos | |
| 26 | BIG BOY SMOKEHOUSE | |
| 27 | Tru Q Brothers BBQ | |
| 28 | GRUMPY OLD MEN BBQ | |
| 29 | ACES HIGH BBQ | |
| 30 | TWOLITTLEPIGSBBQ.COM | |
| 31 | BIG WOOD BBQ | |
| 32 | Locks Blocks BBQ | |
| 33 | PIG APPROVED BBQ | |
| 34 | Felonious BBQ | |
| 35 | YANKEE ROAD KILL BBQ. | |
| 36 | FNG BBQ | |
| 37 | We Be Porken | |
| 38 | WOLFSEEKER SMOKE-N-BBQ | |
| 39 | SUBTLE SMOKE | |
| 40 | SMOKE DYNASTY | |
| 41 | SMOKING BARREL BBQ & ROADHOUSE | |
| 42 | Q's Ur Daddy | |
| 43 | We Make It Do What It Do | |
| 45 | CIGAR B QUE | |
| 46 | JJ Barbeque Experience | |
| 47 | Savory Butts & Thighs |