A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 7 tracked editions
SPITFIRE has won this contest 2 times across its 7 tracked editions.
- 2013
- 2015
Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off 2013
Oct 18–19, 2013 · Munfordville, KY
SPITFIRE won Grand Champion at the Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off on October 18, 2013 in Munfordville, KY, scoring 695.9656 in a field of 40 teams. BLUE CHIP BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 687.9428. Category winners: Chicken — Hot Racks & BBQ Stacks (177.7028); Pork Ribs — SPITFIRE (176.5716); Pork — Z SMOKE (175.4400); Brisket — TWO OLD MEN AND A GRILL (178.8800). 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.
550.65
median 655.89
695.97 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 177.70
- Pork Ribs 176.57
- Pork 175.44
- Brisket 178.88
126.79
178.88
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2021 — this edition picked out.
Entries
40
4 judged meats · 2 ancillary
Top score
695.9656
Winning margin
8.0228
GC over RC
Field average
650.53
550.65695.97
median 655.89 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
2.2744 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
670.8112
550.65695.97
10th place overall
Field spread
145.3144
winner to last place
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 50%
beats 50% of 4714 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.69 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,547
avg power rating going in · stronger than 35% of contests
Storylines (3 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.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 8 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 1–2: Hot Racks & BBQ Stacks and TWO OLD MEN AND A GRILL tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 5–6: SWEET BLAQ ASH and ONE2BBQ tied on 174.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 5–6: SOUTH PORK and Hot Racks & BBQ Stacks tied on 173.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 1–2 · tie
- Chicken 5–6 · tie
- Brisket 5–6 · tie
- Pork Ribs 5–6 · 0.0116
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
SPITFIRE took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was chicken at 7th.
- Chicken 7th
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 4th
- Brisket 4th
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 18, 2013 ← this one | Munfordville, KY | Munfordville, KY | 40 | 695.9656 | SPITFIRE | BLUE CHIP BBQ |
| Oct 17, 2014 | Munfordville, KY | Munfordville, KY 42765 | 32 | 682.8000 | SQUEALERS AWARD WINNING BARBEQUE | BLUE CHIP BBQ |
| Oct 16, 2015 | Munfordville, KY | Munfordville, KY 42765 | 34 | 687.3944 | SPITFIRE | QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N |
| Oct 20, 2017 | Munfordville, KY | Main Street | 36 | 689.6916 | B&R SMOKE | WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS |
| Oct 19, 2018 | Munfordville, KY | Main St | 29 | 704.5372 | GREY STREET BBQ | A FINE SWINE |
| Oct 18, 2019 | Munfordville, KY | Main St | 31 | 701.6456 | MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | BARK 'N BONES BBQ |
| Oct 16, 2020 | Munfordville, KY | — | — | — | — | — |
| Oct 15, 2021 | Munfordville, KY | Downtown Munfordville | 27 | 712.5716 | Continental Barbeque Co | LC BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 177.7028 | 174.8572 | 172.5600 |
| Pork Ribs | 176.5716 | 174.2972 | 169.1428 |
| Pork | 175.4400 | 171.9772 | 168.5716 |
| Brisket | 178.8800 | 173.1200 | 170.2972 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
40 entries · top 695.9656 · median 655.8856
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SPITFIRE | |
| 2 | BLUE CHIP BBQ | |
| 3 | TWO OLD MEN AND A GRILL | |
| 4 | Hot Racks & BBQ Stacks | |
| 5 | SWIGGIN PIG | |
| 6 | WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS | |
| 7 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 8 | Pappy Q | |
| 9 | CONTINENTAL BARBECUE CO | |
| 10 | SMOK'N BOOTY BBQ | |
| 11 | HOBBIE BAR-B-Q | |
| 12 | WOODPILE BBQ SHACK | |
| 13 | Organizer Portal | |
| 14 | EAT MOR BUTT BBQ | |
| 15 | SWEET BLAQ ASH | |
| 16 | PIG PAK | |
| 17 | Z SMOKE | |
| 18 | ACME BBQ | |
| 19 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 20 | MUSIC CITY PIG PALS | |
| 21 | Tiki Q | |
| 22 | Q-BONES BBQ | |
| 23 | HOUSE OF Q | |
| 24 | CRASH TEST SMOKERS | |
| 25 | HICKORY PIT STOP | |
| 26 | MONTY PIGTHON & THE HOLY GRILL | |
| 27 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 28 | FARMER'S RETREAT SMOKIN BARBEQUE | |
| 29 | KENTUCKY KOOKERS | |
| 30 | KINNARD BRO BBQ | |
| 31 | SHADETREECOOKS | |
| 32 | HISHMEH BBQ | |
| 33 | SLOW SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 34 | AUBREY Q | |
| 35 | MIKE'S KENTUCKY HURRICANES | |
| 36 | SNORING HOGS BBQ | |
| 37 | RICE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 38 | WILDFIRE BBQ | |
| 39 | ALL OUT PIG OUT | |
| 40 | SMOKIN 203RD |
Chicken
40 entries · top 177.7028 · median 164.5314
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hot Racks & BBQ Stacks | |
| 2 | TWO OLD MEN AND A GRILL | |
| 3 | Pappy Q | |
| 4 | SWIGGIN PIG | |
| 5 | SWEET BLAQ ASH | |
| 6 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 7 | SPITFIRE | |
| 8 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 9 | PIG PAK | |
| 10 | BLUE CHIP BBQ | |
| 11 | CONTINENTAL BARBECUE CO | |
| 12 | KINNARD BRO BBQ | |
| 13 | HOUSE OF Q | |
| 14 | WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS | |
| 15 | MUSIC CITY PIG PALS | |
| 16 | Z SMOKE | |
| 17 | EAT MOR BUTT BBQ | |
| 18 | AUBREY Q | |
| 19 | ACME BBQ | |
| 20 | HICKORY PIT STOP | |
| 21 | Tiki Q | |
| 22 | Q-BONES BBQ | |
| 23 | HOBBIE BAR-B-Q | |
| 24 | CRASH TEST SMOKERS | |
| 25 | WILDFIRE BBQ | |
| 26 | KENTUCKY KOOKERS | |
| 27 | WOODPILE BBQ SHACK | |
| 28 | Organizer Portal | |
| 29 | SHADETREECOOKS | |
| 30 | SLOW SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 31 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 32 | MONTY PIGTHON & THE HOLY GRILL | |
| 33 | RICE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 34 | SMOK'N BOOTY BBQ | |
| 35 | HISHMEH BBQ | |
| 36 | ALL OUT PIG OUT | |
| 37 | SNORING HOGS BBQ | |
| 38 | SMOKIN 203RD | |
| 39 | FARMER'S RETREAT SMOKIN BARBEQUE | |
| 40 | MIKE'S KENTUCKY HURRICANES |
Pork Ribs
40 entries · top 176.5716 · median 162.5542
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SPITFIRE | |
| 2 | WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS | |
| 3 | BLUE CHIP BBQ | |
| 4 | Pappy Q | |
| 5 | SMOK'N BOOTY BBQ | |
| 6 | CONTINENTAL BARBECUE CO | |
| 7 | EAT MOR BUTT BBQ | |
| 8 | KINNARD BRO BBQ | |
| 9 | WOODPILE BBQ SHACK | |
| 10 | SHADETREECOOKS | |
| 11 | SNORING HOGS BBQ | |
| 12 | Q-BONES BBQ | |
| 13 | HOUSE OF Q | |
| 14 | MUSIC CITY PIG PALS | |
| 15 | SWIGGIN PIG | |
| 16 | ACME BBQ | |
| 17 | PIG PAK | |
| 18 | Z SMOKE | |
| 19 | Hot Racks & BBQ Stacks | |
| 20 | TWO OLD MEN AND A GRILL | |
| 21 | SLOW SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 22 | FARMER'S RETREAT SMOKIN BARBEQUE | |
| 23 | SWEET BLAQ ASH | |
| 24 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 25 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 26 | MONTY PIGTHON & THE HOLY GRILL | |
| 27 | Organizer Portal | |
| 28 | CRASH TEST SMOKERS | |
| 29 | HOBBIE BAR-B-Q | |
| 30 | HICKORY PIT STOP | |
| 31 | Tiki Q | |
| 32 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 33 | MIKE'S KENTUCKY HURRICANES | |
| 34 | AUBREY Q | |
| 35 | HISHMEH BBQ | |
| 36 | KENTUCKY KOOKERS | |
| 37 | WILDFIRE BBQ | |
| 38 | RICE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 39 | ALL OUT PIG OUT | |
| 40 | SMOKIN 203RD |
Pork
40 entries · top 175.4400 · median 166.2686
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Z SMOKE | |
| 2 | Organizer Portal | |
| 3 | SMOK'N BOOTY BBQ | |
| 4 | SPITFIRE | |
| 5 | Q-BONES BBQ | |
| 6 | Tiki Q | |
| 7 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 8 | WOODPILE BBQ SHACK | |
| 9 | HOBBIE BAR-B-Q | |
| 10 | SWEET BLAQ ASH | |
| 11 | HICKORY PIT STOP | |
| 12 | MUSIC CITY PIG PALS | |
| 13 | BLUE CHIP BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 15 | SWIGGIN PIG | |
| 16 | KINNARD BRO BBQ | |
| 17 | Hot Racks & BBQ Stacks | |
| 18 | Pappy Q | |
| 19 | SHADETREECOOKS | |
| 20 | RICE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 21 | ACME BBQ | |
| 22 | TWO OLD MEN AND A GRILL | |
| 23 | MIKE'S KENTUCKY HURRICANES | |
| 24 | FARMER'S RETREAT SMOKIN BARBEQUE | |
| 25 | CONTINENTAL BARBECUE CO | |
| 26 | HISHMEH BBQ | |
| 27 | SLOW SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 28 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 29 | MONTY PIGTHON & THE HOLY GRILL | |
| 30 | AUBREY Q | |
| 31 | WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS | |
| 32 | EAT MOR BUTT BBQ | |
| 33 | CRASH TEST SMOKERS | |
| 34 | HOUSE OF Q | |
| 35 | KENTUCKY KOOKERS | |
| 36 | ALL OUT PIG OUT | |
| 37 | PIG PAK | |
| 38 | WILDFIRE BBQ | |
| 39 | SNORING HOGS BBQ | |
| 40 | SMOKIN 203RD |
Brisket
40 entries · top 178.8800 · median 162.2686
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TWO OLD MEN AND A GRILL | |
| 2 | WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS | |
| 3 | HOBBIE BAR-B-Q | |
| 4 | SPITFIRE | |
| 5 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 6 | Hot Racks & BBQ Stacks | |
| 7 | BLUE CHIP BBQ | |
| 8 | SWIGGIN PIG | |
| 9 | SMOK'N BOOTY BBQ | |
| 10 | PIG PAK | |
| 11 | MONTY PIGTHON & THE HOLY GRILL | |
| 12 | Organizer Portal | |
| 13 | WOODPILE BBQ SHACK | |
| 14 | FARMER'S RETREAT SMOKIN BARBEQUE | |
| 15 | KENTUCKY KOOKERS | |
| 16 | CRASH TEST SMOKERS | |
| 17 | CONTINENTAL BARBECUE CO | |
| 18 | EAT MOR BUTT BBQ | |
| 19 | MIKE'S KENTUCKY HURRICANES | |
| 20 | ACME BBQ | |
| 21 | Tiki Q | |
| 22 | SNORING HOGS BBQ | |
| 23 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 24 | Pappy Q | |
| 25 | HISHMEH BBQ | |
| 26 | SWEET BLAQ ASH | |
| 27 | HICKORY PIT STOP | |
| 28 | MUSIC CITY PIG PALS | |
| 29 | HOUSE OF Q | |
| 30 | SMOKE ON THIS | |
| 31 | Z SMOKE | |
| 32 | RICE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 33 | Q-BONES BBQ | |
| 34 | SLOW SMOKIN BBQ | |
| 35 | AUBREY Q | |
| 36 | ALL OUT PIG OUT | |
| 37 | SHADETREECOOKS | |
| 38 | WILDFIRE BBQ | |
| 39 | SMOKIN 203RD | |
| 40 | KINNARD BRO 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 — Bacon
18 entries · top 177.1428 · median 165.1086
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HICKORY PIT STOP | |
| 2 | SHADETREECOOKS | |
| 3 | Z SMOKE | |
| 4 | Hot Racks & BBQ Stacks | |
| 5 | RICE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 6 | SOUTH PORK | |
| 7 | Tiki Q | |
| 8 | EAT MOR BUTT BBQ | |
| 9 | ALL OUT PIG OUT | |
| 10 | SNORING HOGS BBQ | |
| 11 | TWO OLD MEN AND A GRILL | |
| 12 | HOBBIE BAR-B-Q | |
| 13 | MONTY PIGTHON & THE HOLY GRILL | |
| 14 | CONTINENTAL BARBECUE CO | |
| 15 | MIKE'S KENTUCKY HURRICANES | |
| 16 | SMOKIN 203RD | |
| 17 | SMOK'N BOOTY BBQ | |
| 18 | AUBREY Q |
Master Series — Dessert
20 entries · top 173.1544 · median 151.7086
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HOBBIE BAR-B-Q | |
| 2 | RICE BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 3 | HANNAH ENGLAND | |
| 4 | CYNTHIA HERNANDEZ | |
| 5 | Tiki Q | |
| 6 | REX BROWN | |
| 7 | BRIAN KEY | |
| 8 | KAREN RICH | |
| 9 | SHADETREECOOKS | |
| 10 | CYNTHIA HERNANDEZ 2 | |
| 11 | ANNA CHAMBLISS | |
| 12 | CONTINENTAL BARBECUE CO | |
| 13 | ALL OUT PIG OUT | |
| 14 | CRAIG KESSLER | |
| 15 | AMBER MC GUIRE | |
| 16 | HANNA ENGLAND 2 | |
| 17 | SMOK'N BOOTY BBQ | |
| 18 | SNORING HOGS BBQ | |
| 19 | MARCIA MUNNION | |
| 20 | SMOKIN 203RD |