Won without a category win
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
MIKE won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 3rd
- Pork Ribs 30th
- Pork 2nd
- Brisket 7th
Jim Beam BBQ Classic 2013
Oct 4–5, 2013 · Springfield, KY
MIKE won Grand Champion at the Jim Beam BBQ Classic on October 4, 2013 in Springfield, KY, scoring 693.1772 in a field of 41 teams. SOUTH PORK took Reserve Grand Champion with 689.6684. Category winners: Chicken — BIG JT'S SMOKIN BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — MOONSWINERS (176.5716); Pork — EAT MOR BUTT BBQ (180.0000); Brisket — QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N (180.0000). This is the 1st of 7 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.
599.77
median 666.70
693.18 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 180 🔥
- Pork Ribs 176.57
- Pork 180 🔥
- Brisket 180 🔥
142.22
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2019 — this edition picked out.
Entries
41
4 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
693.1772
Winning margin
3.5088
GC over RC
Field average
660.96
599.77693.18
median 666.70 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
3 🔥
Tightest race
Chicken
2.2972 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
682.8572
599.77693.18
10th place overall
Field spread
93.4056
winner to last place
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 60%
beats 40% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.75 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,543
avg power rating going in · stronger than 32% of contests
Storylines (4 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 day of perfect scores
3
perfect 180s
3 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N · Brisket
- BIG JT'S SMOKIN BBQ · Chicken
- EAT MOR BUTT BBQ · Pork
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 7 tracked editions
MIKE has won this contest 2 times across its 7 tracked editions.
- 2013
- 2014
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 14 calls decided inside half a point
Pork Ribs places 9–10: WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS and WOODPILE BBQ SHACK tied on 170.8456 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 3–4: RETIRED & RUBBIN IT and MOONSWINERS tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 7–8: Pappy Q and QUENIVOROUS tied on 173.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Pork Ribs 9–10 · tie
- Pork 3–4 · tie
- Pork 7–8 · tie
- Pork 9–10 · tie
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 4, 2013 ← this one | Springfield, KY | Springfield, KY | 41 | 693.1772 | MIKE | SOUTH PORK |
| Oct 3, 2014 | Springfield, KY | Springfield, KY 40069 | 44 | 697.1088 | MIKE | YELLOW RIVER BBQ |
| Oct 2, 2015 | Springfield, KY | Springfield, KY 40069 | 45 | 700.5828 | TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI | BLUE CHIP BBQ |
| Sep 30, 2016 | Springfield, KY | Springfield , KY | 43 | 698.7884 | SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES |
| Oct 6, 2017 | Springfield, KY | Ballard St | 44 | 702.2628 | SLIPPERY PETE'S BBQ | GREY STREET BBQ |
| Oct 5, 2018 | Springfield, KY | Ballard St | 42 | 689.6344 | WEQ4U | FARMER'S RETREAT SMOKIN BARBEQUE |
| Oct 4, 2019 | Springfield, KY | Ballard st | 42 | 701.6572 | One2BBQ | WEQ4U |
| Oct 1, 2021 | Springfield, KY | — | — | — | — | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 177.7028 | 174.8456 |
| Pork Ribs | 176.5716 | 173.1200 | 170.8456 |
| Pork | 180 | 175.4056 | 170.8572 |
| Brisket | 180 | 174.2972 | 172.5484 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
41 entries · top 693.1772 · median 666.6968
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MIKE | |
| 2 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 3 | KENTUCKY KOOKERS | |
| 4 | MOONSWINERS | |
| 5 | EAT MOR BUTT BBQ | |
| 6 | WOODPILE BBQ SHACK | |
| 7 | HUG HOGS | |
| 8 | BLUE CHIP BBQ | |
| 9 | Pappy Q | |
| 10 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 11 | WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS | |
| 12 | MONTY PIGTHON & THE HOLY GRILL | |
| 13 | QUBED | |
| 14 | UNCULTURED SWINE | |
| 15 | QUENIVOROUS | |
| 16 | GET YOUR SMOKE ON BBQ | |
| 17 | BIG JT'S SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 18 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 19 | WEQ4U | |
| 20 | YELLOW RIVER BBQ | |
| 21 | PIG PAK | |
| 22 | RETIRED & RUBBIN IT | |
| 23 | SHADETREECOOKS | |
| 24 | FRIENDS OF OBR | |
| 25 | ACME BBQ | |
| 26 | TEAM RINE-O | |
| 27 | TRIPLE J & C BBQ | |
| 28 | HOOSIER FAVORITE BBQ | |
| 29 | GETTA QUE | |
| 30 | R&S BBQ | |
| 31 | BLUE DOG BBQ | |
| 32 | Liquor & Sticker | |
| 33 | MIKE'S KENTUCKY HURRICANES | |
| 34 | FARMER'S RETREAT SMOKIN BARBEQUE | |
| 35 | TEAM LOU B' QUE | |
| 36 | FATTENED CALF | |
| 37 | PAP'S BBQ | |
| 38 | STINKEYE BBQ | |
| 39 | DIVINE SWINE | |
| 40 | ALL OUT PIG OUT | |
| 41 | Bubba's Butts |
Chicken
41 entries · top 180 · median 167.4172 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIG JT'S SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 2 | BLUE CHIP BBQ | |
| 3 | MIKE | |
| 4 | KENTUCKY KOOKERS | |
| 5 | Pappy Q | |
| 6 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 7 | YELLOW RIVER BBQ | |
| 8 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 9 | MOONSWINERS | |
| 10 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 11 | WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS | |
| 12 | EAT MOR BUTT BBQ | |
| 13 | GET YOUR SMOKE ON BBQ | |
| 14 | BLUE DOG BBQ | |
| 15 | TRIPLE J & C BBQ | |
| 16 | WOODPILE BBQ SHACK | |
| 17 | HUG HOGS | |
| 18 | ACME BBQ | |
| 19 | R&S BBQ | |
| 20 | UNCULTURED SWINE | |
| 21 | FRIENDS OF OBR | |
| 22 | GETTA QUE | |
| 23 | MONTY PIGTHON & THE HOLY GRILL | |
| 24 | QUENIVOROUS | |
| 25 | SHADETREECOOKS | |
| 26 | Liquor & Sticker | |
| 27 | TEAM RINE-O | |
| 28 | RETIRED & RUBBIN IT | |
| 29 | PIG PAK | |
| 30 | QUBED | |
| 31 | HOOSIER FAVORITE BBQ | |
| 32 | TEAM LOU B' QUE | |
| 33 | DIVINE SWINE | |
| 34 | PAP'S BBQ | |
| 35 | WEQ4U | |
| 36 | FARMER'S RETREAT SMOKIN BARBEQUE | |
| 37 | MIKE'S KENTUCKY HURRICANES | |
| 38 | FATTENED CALF | |
| 39 | ALL OUT PIG OUT | |
| 40 | STINKEYE BBQ | |
| 41 | Bubba's Butts |
Pork Ribs
41 entries · top 176.5716 · median 167.4172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MOONSWINERS | |
| 2 | HUG HOGS | |
| 3 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 4 | BIG JT'S SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 5 | WEQ4U | |
| 6 | KENTUCKY KOOKERS | |
| 7 | BLUE CHIP BBQ | |
| 8 | QUENIVOROUS | |
| 9 | WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS | |
| 10 | WOODPILE BBQ SHACK | |
| 11 | GET YOUR SMOKE ON BBQ | |
| 12 | Pappy Q | |
| 13 | QUBED | |
| 14 | SHADETREECOOKS | |
| 15 | UNCULTURED SWINE | |
| 16 | TEAM LOU B' QUE | |
| 17 | DIVINE SWINE | |
| 18 | TRIPLE J & C BBQ | |
| 19 | STINKEYE BBQ | |
| 20 | MIKE'S KENTUCKY HURRICANES | |
| 21 | EAT MOR BUTT BBQ | |
| 22 | MONTY PIGTHON & THE HOLY GRILL | |
| 23 | FARMER'S RETREAT SMOKIN BARBEQUE | |
| 24 | PIG PAK | |
| 25 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 26 | ACME BBQ | |
| 27 | TEAM RINE-O | |
| 28 | RETIRED & RUBBIN IT | |
| 29 | PAP'S BBQ | |
| 30 | MIKE | |
| 31 | GETTA QUE | |
| 32 | FATTENED CALF | |
| 33 | Bubba's Butts | |
| 34 | Liquor & Sticker | |
| 35 | R&S BBQ | |
| 36 | FRIENDS OF OBR | |
| 37 | ALL OUT PIG OUT | |
| 38 | YELLOW RIVER BBQ | |
| 39 | HOOSIER FAVORITE BBQ | |
| 40 | BLUE DOG BBQ | |
| 41 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N |
Pork
41 entries · top 180 · median 166.8228 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | EAT MOR BUTT BBQ | |
| 2 | MIKE | |
| 3 | RETIRED & RUBBIN IT | |
| 4 | MOONSWINERS | |
| 5 | UNCULTURED SWINE | |
| 6 | PIG PAK | |
| 7 | Pappy Q | |
| 8 | QUENIVOROUS | |
| 9 | BLUE CHIP BBQ | |
| 10 | QUBED | |
| 11 | WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS | |
| 12 | GET YOUR SMOKE ON BBQ | |
| 13 | FRIENDS OF OBR | |
| 14 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 15 | YELLOW RIVER BBQ | |
| 16 | FARMER'S RETREAT SMOKIN BARBEQUE | |
| 17 | HUG HOGS | |
| 18 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 19 | WOODPILE BBQ SHACK | |
| 20 | MONTY PIGTHON & THE HOLY GRILL | |
| 21 | WEQ4U | |
| 22 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 23 | STINKEYE BBQ | |
| 24 | BLUE DOG BBQ | |
| 25 | HOOSIER FAVORITE BBQ | |
| 26 | KENTUCKY KOOKERS | |
| 27 | SHADETREECOOKS | |
| 28 | GETTA QUE | |
| 29 | PAP'S BBQ | |
| 30 | TEAM RINE-O | |
| 31 | TEAM LOU B' QUE | |
| 32 | MIKE'S KENTUCKY HURRICANES | |
| 33 | BIG JT'S SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 34 | R&S BBQ | |
| 35 | ACME BBQ | |
| 36 | TRIPLE J & C BBQ | |
| 37 | DIVINE SWINE | |
| 38 | FATTENED CALF | |
| 39 | ALL OUT PIG OUT | |
| 40 | Liquor & Sticker | |
| 41 | Bubba's Butts |
Brisket
41 entries · top 180 · median 164.5372 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 2 | WOODPILE BBQ SHACK | |
| 3 | MONTY PIGTHON & THE HOLY GRILL | |
| 4 | KENTUCKY KOOKERS | |
| 5 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 6 | HOOSIER FAVORITE BBQ | |
| 7 | MIKE | |
| 8 | WEQ4U | |
| 9 | QUBED | |
| 10 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 11 | HUG HOGS | |
| 12 | ACME BBQ | |
| 13 | YELLOW RIVER BBQ | |
| 14 | FRIENDS OF OBR | |
| 15 | SHADETREECOOKS | |
| 16 | Liquor & Sticker | |
| 17 | TEAM RINE-O | |
| 18 | FATTENED CALF | |
| 19 | EAT MOR BUTT BBQ | |
| 20 | QUENIVOROUS | |
| 21 | WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS | |
| 22 | MIKE'S KENTUCKY HURRICANES | |
| 23 | Pappy Q | |
| 24 | PIG PAK | |
| 25 | UNCULTURED SWINE | |
| 26 | BIG JT'S SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 27 | R&S BBQ | |
| 28 | BLUE CHIP BBQ | |
| 29 | RETIRED & RUBBIN IT | |
| 30 | GETTA QUE | |
| 31 | GET YOUR SMOKE ON BBQ | |
| 32 | TRIPLE J & C BBQ | |
| 33 | MOONSWINERS | |
| 34 | BLUE DOG BBQ | |
| 35 | TEAM LOU B' QUE | |
| 36 | PAP'S BBQ | |
| 37 | FARMER'S RETREAT SMOKIN BARBEQUE | |
| 38 | Bubba's Butts | |
| 39 | STINKEYE BBQ | |
| 40 | ALL OUT PIG OUT | |
| 41 | DIVINE SWINE |
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 — Dessert
20 entries · top 180 · median 172.5600 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N | |
| 2 | Pappy Q | |
| 3 | PATRICK FLOWERS | |
| 4 | R&S BBQ | |
| 5 | FRIENDS OF OBR | |
| 6 | GAYLE WORTHINGTON | |
| 7 | LULA GRAVES | |
| 8 | RETIRED & RUBBIN IT | |
| 9 | Bubba's Butts | |
| 10 | BROOKE BINKLEY | |
| 11 | MIKE'S KENTUCKY HURRICANES | |
| 12 | ANNE HAYDN BROWELL | |
| 13 | BIG JT'S SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 14 | TRIPLE J & C BBQ | |
| 15 | SHARON HARRIS | |
| 16 | ALL OUT PIG OUT | |
| 17 | Liquor & Sticker | |
| 18 | BLUE DOG BBQ | |
| 19 | STINKEYE BBQ | |
| 20 | BRIAN &KATHY WELLS |