A first Grand Championship
17
tracked contests to get there
This was BIG POPPA SMOKERS's first Grand Championship in the data — it arrived at their 17th tracked contest.
Colorado Pork & Hops Challenge 2013
Sep 13–14, 2013 · Grand Junction, CO
BIG POPPA SMOKERS won Grand Champion at the Colorado Pork & Hops Challenge on September 13, 2013 in Grand Junction, CO, scoring 702.8572 in a field of 42 teams. BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES took Reserve Grand Champion with 690.8572. Category winners: Chicken — THE PIT CREW BBQ OF AZ (177.1428); Pork Ribs — BIG POPPA SMOKERS (177.7372); Pork — BIG POPPA SMOKERS (180.0000); Brisket — BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES (180.0000). This is the 1st of 8 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.
580.81
median 647.30
702.86 🏆
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 177.74
- Pork 180 🔥
- Brisket 180 🔥
118.64
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2019 — this edition picked out.
Entries
42
4 judged meats · 2 ancillary
Top score
702.8572
Winning margin
12
GC over RC
Field average
643.66
580.81702.86
median 647.30 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork
3.4400 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
670.2172
580.81702.86
10th place overall
Field spread
122.0452
winner to last place
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 21%
beats 79% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.7 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,533
avg power rating going in · stronger than 24% 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 statement win
12.0000
points clear of the field
Wider than 92% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The champion won by 12.0000 points — a wider margin than 92% of championships in the data.
A day of perfect scores
4
perfect 180s
4 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES · Brisket
- BIG POPPA SMOKERS · Pork
- GQUE · Pork
A dynasty in the making
3×
wins at this contest
3 of 8 tracked editions
BIG POPPA SMOKERS has won this contest 3 times across its 8 tracked editions.
- 2013
- 2014
- 2016
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 8 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 5–6: LUCKY'S Q and WOODY'S Q SHACK tied on 172.5828 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 1–2: BIG POPPA SMOKERS and GQUE tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 2–3: GQUE and 4 LEGS UP BBQ tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 5–6 · tie
- Pork 1–2 · tie
- Pork 2–3 · tie
- Brisket 3–4 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
BIG POPPA SMOKERS won Pork Ribs, Pork — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 1st
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
BIG POPPA SMOKERS took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was brisket at 10th.
- Chicken 2nd
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 10th
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 13, 2013 ← this one | Grand Junction, CO | Grand Junction, CO | 42 | 702.8572 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES |
| Sep 12, 2014 | Grand Junction, CO | Grand Junction, CO 81501 | 47 | 692.5944 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ |
| Sep 11, 2015 | Grand Junction, CO | Grand Junction, CO 81521 | 32 | 698.8344 | LUCKY'S Q | GOT SMOKE BAR-B-QUE |
| Sep 9, 2016 | Grand Junction, CO | 1340 Gunnison Ave | 49 | 694.8460 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | UTAH BBQ COMPANY |
| Sep 8, 2017 | Grand Jct, CO | 1340 Gunnison Ave | 28 | 694.2516 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | BACKDRAFT BBQ |
| Sep 7, 2018 | Grand Jct, CO | 925 Struthers AVe | 32 | 693.6572 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | ROCKET BOYS PYRO BBQ |
| Sep 6, 2019 | Grand Jct, CO | 925 Struthers AVe | 28 | 691.3488 | CROOKED PIGS | B-S BBQ OUTLAWS |
| Sep 11, 2020 | Grand Jct, CO | — | — | — | — | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.1428 | 172.5828 | 170.8344 |
| Pork Ribs | 177.7372 | 173.7028 | 168.5944 |
| Pork | 180 | 176.5600 | 170.3200 |
| Brisket | 180 | 172 | 169.6800 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
42 entries · top 702.8572 · median 647.3028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 2 | BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES | |
| 3 | GQUE | |
| 4 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 5 | THE PIT CREW BBQ OF AZ | |
| 6 | I.A.B. 30 BBQ | |
| 7 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 8 | Schmitts Pit BBQ | |
| 9 | 3 LIL' MACS BBQ | |
| 10 | SMOKE N THE ROCKIES | |
| 11 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 12 | MIKE | |
| 13 | OOPS | |
| 14 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 15 | WEBBER'S OLD WEST BBQ | |
| 16 | ROCKY MOUNTAIN PIT POSSE | |
| 17 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 18 | GRILLIN' BEAVERS | |
| 19 | COOTERS COUNTRY CATERING | |
| 20 | Smokin'101 | |
| 21 | Rocket Boys Pyro BBQ | |
| 22 | WOODY'S Q SHACK | |
| 23 | HAMMERHEAD USA BBQ | |
| 24 | Smoke Ring BBQ | |
| 25 | STARS AND STRIPES BBQ | |
| 26 | MONTANA Q | |
| 27 | TEXAS RIB RANGERS | |
| 28 | Fishers Market | |
| 29 | Coyote Q | |
| 30 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 31 | BRACKEN RACKS BBQ | |
| 32 | SWINE DOCTORS | |
| 33 | T-Bone Express | |
| 34 | 1 2 BBQ | |
| 35 | FINGER SUCKING GOOD | |
| 36 | Hot Hawgs BBQ | |
| 37 | Cowboy Joe's Catering | |
| 38 | Red Hot BBQ | |
| 39 | HICKORY DICKORY HOG | |
| 40 | Fishing Buddies | |
| 41 | Meat & Heat BBQ | |
| 42 | FULLY RACK'D BBQ |
Chicken
42 entries · top 177.1428 · median 164.5600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE PIT CREW BBQ OF AZ | |
| 2 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 3 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 4 | 3 LIL' MACS BBQ | |
| 5 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 6 | WOODY'S Q SHACK | |
| 7 | Smokin'101 | |
| 8 | MONTANA Q | |
| 9 | GQUE | |
| 10 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 11 | OOPS | |
| 12 | Schmitts Pit BBQ | |
| 13 | I.A.B. 30 BBQ | |
| 14 | STARS AND STRIPES BBQ | |
| 15 | MIKE | |
| 16 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 17 | Smoke Ring BBQ | |
| 18 | SWINE DOCTORS | |
| 19 | HICKORY DICKORY HOG | |
| 20 | BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES | |
| 21 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 22 | COOTERS COUNTRY CATERING | |
| 23 | SMOKE N THE ROCKIES | |
| 24 | TEXAS RIB RANGERS | |
| 25 | Fishers Market | |
| 26 | Hot Hawgs BBQ | |
| 27 | Meat & Heat BBQ | |
| 28 | FINGER SUCKING GOOD | |
| 29 | Cowboy Joe's Catering | |
| 30 | 1 2 BBQ | |
| 31 | BRACKEN RACKS BBQ | |
| 32 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 33 | HAMMERHEAD USA BBQ | |
| 34 | Rocket Boys Pyro BBQ | |
| 35 | WEBBER'S OLD WEST BBQ | |
| 36 | ROCKY MOUNTAIN PIT POSSE | |
| 37 | Coyote Q | |
| 38 | FULLY RACK'D BBQ | |
| 39 | GRILLIN' BEAVERS | |
| 40 | Red Hot BBQ | |
| 41 | T-Bone Express | |
| 42 | Fishing Buddies |
Pork Ribs
42 entries · top 177.7372 · median 160.2572
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 2 | I.A.B. 30 BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKE N THE ROCKIES | |
| 4 | GQUE | |
| 5 | 3 LIL' MACS BBQ | |
| 6 | GRILLIN' BEAVERS | |
| 7 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 8 | Smokin'101 | |
| 9 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 10 | BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES | |
| 11 | THE PIT CREW BBQ OF AZ | |
| 12 | Coyote Q | |
| 13 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 14 | Rocket Boys Pyro BBQ | |
| 15 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 16 | WEBBER'S OLD WEST BBQ | |
| 17 | Schmitts Pit BBQ | |
| 18 | MIKE | |
| 19 | COOTERS COUNTRY CATERING | |
| 20 | BRACKEN RACKS BBQ | |
| 21 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 22 | Smoke Ring BBQ | |
| 23 | MONTANA Q | |
| 24 | HAMMERHEAD USA BBQ | |
| 25 | OOPS | |
| 26 | SWINE DOCTORS | |
| 27 | STARS AND STRIPES BBQ | |
| 28 | ROCKY MOUNTAIN PIT POSSE | |
| 29 | HICKORY DICKORY HOG | |
| 30 | Fishers Market | |
| 31 | WOODY'S Q SHACK | |
| 32 | T-Bone Express | |
| 33 | FULLY RACK'D BBQ | |
| 34 | TEXAS RIB RANGERS | |
| 35 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 36 | 1 2 BBQ | |
| 37 | Cowboy Joe's Catering | |
| 38 | FINGER SUCKING GOOD | |
| 39 | Fishing Buddies | |
| 40 | Red Hot BBQ | |
| 41 | Meat & Heat BBQ | |
| 42 | Hot Hawgs BBQ |
Pork
42 entries · top 180 · median 163.9942 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 2 | GQUE | |
| 3 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 4 | ROCKY MOUNTAIN PIT POSSE | |
| 5 | BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES | |
| 6 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKE N THE ROCKIES | |
| 8 | THE PIT CREW BBQ OF AZ | |
| 9 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 10 | WEBBER'S OLD WEST BBQ | |
| 11 | HAMMERHEAD USA BBQ | |
| 12 | I.A.B. 30 BBQ | |
| 13 | Schmitts Pit BBQ | |
| 14 | COOTERS COUNTRY CATERING | |
| 15 | Coyote Q | |
| 16 | SWINE DOCTORS | |
| 17 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 18 | Smoke Ring BBQ | |
| 19 | OOPS | |
| 20 | FINGER SUCKING GOOD | |
| 21 | Hot Hawgs BBQ | |
| 22 | TEXAS RIB RANGERS | |
| 23 | Fishers Market | |
| 24 | STARS AND STRIPES BBQ | |
| 25 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 26 | FULLY RACK'D BBQ | |
| 27 | GRILLIN' BEAVERS | |
| 28 | 3 LIL' MACS BBQ | |
| 29 | BRACKEN RACKS BBQ | |
| 30 | Red Hot BBQ | |
| 31 | MIKE | |
| 32 | Smokin'101 | |
| 33 | MONTANA Q | |
| 34 | WOODY'S Q SHACK | |
| 35 | Rocket Boys Pyro BBQ | |
| 36 | Fishing Buddies | |
| 37 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 38 | Cowboy Joe's Catering | |
| 39 | T-Bone Express | |
| 40 | 1 2 BBQ | |
| 41 | Meat & Heat BBQ | |
| 42 | HICKORY DICKORY HOG |
Brisket
42 entries · top 180 · median 159.4172 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES | |
| 2 | MIKE | |
| 3 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 4 | GRILLIN' BEAVERS | |
| 5 | Rocket Boys Pyro BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKIN TIMBERS BBQ | |
| 7 | ROCKY MOUNTAIN PIT POSSE | |
| 8 | Schmitts Pit BBQ | |
| 9 | OOPS | |
| 10 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 11 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 12 | WEBBER'S OLD WEST BBQ | |
| 13 | GQUE | |
| 14 | 3 LIL' MACS BBQ | |
| 15 | WOODY'S Q SHACK | |
| 16 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 17 | TEXAS RIB RANGERS | |
| 18 | THE PIT CREW BBQ OF AZ | |
| 19 | I.A.B. 30 BBQ | |
| 20 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 21 | T-Bone Express | |
| 22 | Fishers Market | |
| 23 | HAMMERHEAD USA BBQ | |
| 24 | SMOKE N THE ROCKIES | |
| 25 | STARS AND STRIPES BBQ | |
| 26 | BRACKEN RACKS BBQ | |
| 27 | COOTERS COUNTRY CATERING | |
| 28 | 1 2 BBQ | |
| 29 | Hot Hawgs BBQ | |
| 30 | MONTANA Q | |
| 31 | Smokin'101 | |
| 32 | Smoke Ring BBQ | |
| 33 | Red Hot BBQ | |
| 34 | Fishing Buddies | |
| 35 | Coyote Q | |
| 36 | SIMPLY MARVELOUS BBQ | |
| 37 | Meat & Heat BBQ | |
| 38 | Cowboy Joe's Catering | |
| 39 | HICKORY DICKORY HOG | |
| 40 | FINGER SUCKING GOOD | |
| 41 | SWINE DOCTORS | |
| 42 | FULLY RACK'D 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.
Master Series — Anythiing Butt
15 entries · top 177.7144 · median 168.0228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE PIT CREW BBQ OF AZ | |
| 2 | SMOKE N THE ROCKIES | |
| 3 | Rocket Boys Pyro BBQ | |
| 4 | Fishers Market | |
| 5 | TEXAS RIB RANGERS | |
| 6 | MIKE | |
| 7 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 8 | GRILLIN' BEAVERS | |
| 9 | Red Hot BBQ | |
| 10 | Smoke Ring BBQ | |
| 11 | BRACKEN RACKS BBQ | |
| 12 | ROCKY MOUNTAIN PIT POSSE | |
| 13 | 1 2 BBQ | |
| 14 | FULLY RACK'D BBQ | |
| 15 | Cowboy Joe's Catering |
Master Series — Dessert
15 entries · top 178.8800 · median 169.1200
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 2 | HAMMERHEAD USA BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKE N THE ROCKIES | |
| 4 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 5 | 1 2 BBQ | |
| 6 | Smokin'101 | |
| 7 | Fishers Market | |
| 8 | THE PIT CREW BBQ OF AZ | |
| 9 | SWINE DOCTORS | |
| 10 | FINGER SUCKING GOOD | |
| 11 | Red Hot BBQ | |
| 12 | TEXAS RIB RANGERS | |
| 13 | Smoke Ring BBQ | |
| 14 | Fishing Buddies | |
| 15 | FULLY RACK'D BBQ |