A KCBS record was set here
180
one meat, out of 180
POLITICAL PORK 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
Apple Blossom Barbecue Contest 2013
May 3–4, 2013 · St. Joseph, MO
POLITICAL PORK won Grand Champion at the Apple Blossom Barbecue Contest on May 3, 2013 in St. Joseph, MO, scoring 686.2852 in a field of 39 teams. VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY took Reserve Grand Champion with 683.9996. Category winners: Chicken — Weirich Custom BBQ (176.0000); Pork Ribs — POLITICAL PORK (180.0000); Pork — QSS SMOKIN (176.5716); Brisket — Weirich Custom BBQ (174.2856). This is the 1st of 2 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.
549.14
median 649.14
686.29 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 176
- Pork Ribs 180 🔥
- Pork 176.57
- Brisket 174.29
117.71
180
Entries
39
4 judged meats
Top score
686.2852
Winning margin
2.2856
GC over RC
Field average
639.57
549.14686.29
median 649.14 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Chicken
4.5712 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
663.9996
549.14686.29
10th place overall
Field spread
137.1424
winner to last place
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 79%
beats 21% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.66 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,510
avg power rating going in · stronger than 7% of contests
Storylines (6 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 first Grand Championship
4
tracked contests to get there
This was POLITICAL PORK's first Grand Championship in the data — it arrived at their 4th tracked contest.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 13 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 8–9: STICKS-N-CHICKS BBQ and S&S BBQ tied on 169.7142 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 9–10: S&S BBQ and PELLET ENVY tied on 169.7142 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 4–5: VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY and WHISKEY PIT BBQ COMPANY tied on 170.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 8–9 · tie
- Chicken 9–10 · tie
- Pork Ribs 4–5 · tie
- Pork Ribs 6–7 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
Weirich Custom BBQ won Chicken, Brisket — a double.
- Chicken 1st
- Brisket 1st
How the title was won
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
POLITICAL PORK took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was chicken at 25th.
- Chicken 25th
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 6th
- Brisket 2nd
A perfect score on the table
1
perfect 180s
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- POLITICAL PORK · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 3, 2013 ← this one | St. Joseph, MO | St. Joseph, MO | 39 | 686.2852 | POLITICAL PORK | VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY |
| May 2, 2014 | St. Joseph, MO | St. Joseph, MO 64501 | 33 | 691.4972 | PIGSKIN BBQ | R BUTTS R SMOKIN |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 176 | 171.4288 | 169.7142 |
| Pork Ribs | 180 | 170.8572 | 169.1428 |
| Pork | 176.5716 | 171.9998 | 169.1428 |
| Brisket | 174.2856 | 168.5714 | 166.2854 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
39 entries · top 686.2852 · median 649.1422
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 2 | VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY | |
| 3 | WHISKEY PIT BBQ COMPANY | |
| 4 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 5 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 6 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 7 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 8 | PELLET ENVY | |
| 9 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | |
| 10 | Weirich Custom BBQ | |
| 11 | S&S BBQ | |
| 12 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 13 | LEEPS BBQ | |
| 14 | TEAM GETTING SAUCED | |
| 15 | KC Q | |
| 16 | SLABS OF APPROVAL | |
| 17 | QSS SMOKIN | |
| 18 | STICKS-N-CHICKS BBQ | |
| 19 | Highline BBQ | |
| 20 | IOWA WILD HOGS BBQ | |
| 21 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 22 | BLUE COLLAR SMOKERS | |
| 23 | BUCKY'S BADASS BBQ | |
| 24 | T'S SMOKIN PIT | |
| 25 | MEL'S BBQ | |
| 26 | YELLOW DOG BBQ AND SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 27 | BURNIN' DOWN THE HOG | |
| 28 | BBEEQ | |
| 29 | KUSTOM Q | |
| 30 | Grandpa Smokeys | |
| 31 | BULLETS AND BUTTS | |
| 32 | River Rats BBQ'ers | |
| 33 | Red Eye BBQ | |
| 34 | Smokin Timber | |
| 35 | Grillin Buddies | |
| 36 | UNCLE BO'S BBQ | |
| 37 | Sunshine | |
| 38 | Norty's Bar 'n Q | |
| 39 | Rat Roasters |
Chicken
39 entries · top 176 · median 164.5716
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weirich Custom BBQ | |
| 2 | VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY | |
| 3 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 4 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 5 | BLUE COLLAR SMOKERS | |
| 6 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 7 | WHISKEY PIT BBQ COMPANY | |
| 8 | STICKS-N-CHICKS BBQ | |
| 9 | S&S BBQ | |
| 10 | PELLET ENVY | |
| 11 | TEAM GETTING SAUCED | |
| 12 | MEL'S BBQ | |
| 13 | KC Q | |
| 14 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 15 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 16 | SLABS OF APPROVAL | |
| 17 | YELLOW DOG BBQ AND SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 18 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 19 | Grillin Buddies | |
| 20 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | |
| 21 | Smokin Timber | |
| 22 | T'S SMOKIN PIT | |
| 23 | BURNIN' DOWN THE HOG | |
| 24 | LEEPS BBQ | |
| 25 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 26 | KUSTOM Q | |
| 27 | BUCKY'S BADASS BBQ | |
| 28 | River Rats BBQ'ers | |
| 29 | BULLETS AND BUTTS | |
| 30 | UNCLE BO'S BBQ | |
| 31 | QSS SMOKIN | |
| 32 | Norty's Bar 'n Q | |
| 33 | Grandpa Smokeys | |
| 34 | IOWA WILD HOGS BBQ | |
| 35 | BBEEQ | |
| 36 | Highline BBQ | |
| 37 | Rat Roasters | |
| 38 | Red Eye BBQ | |
| 39 | Sunshine |
Pork Ribs
39 entries · top 180 · median 161.7144 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 2 | SLABS OF APPROVAL | |
| 3 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 4 | VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY | |
| 5 | WHISKEY PIT BBQ COMPANY | |
| 6 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 7 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 8 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 9 | IOWA WILD HOGS BBQ | |
| 10 | STICKS-N-CHICKS BBQ | |
| 11 | Weirich Custom BBQ | |
| 12 | PELLET ENVY | |
| 13 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 14 | LEEPS BBQ | |
| 15 | Highline BBQ | |
| 16 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 17 | BURNIN' DOWN THE HOG | |
| 18 | BUCKY'S BADASS BBQ | |
| 19 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | |
| 20 | MEL'S BBQ | |
| 21 | BLUE COLLAR SMOKERS | |
| 22 | KC Q | |
| 23 | TEAM GETTING SAUCED | |
| 24 | S&S BBQ | |
| 25 | T'S SMOKIN PIT | |
| 26 | YELLOW DOG BBQ AND SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 27 | River Rats BBQ'ers | |
| 28 | Red Eye BBQ | |
| 29 | KUSTOM Q | |
| 30 | QSS SMOKIN | |
| 31 | Grandpa Smokeys | |
| 32 | BBEEQ | |
| 33 | Grillin Buddies | |
| 34 | Norty's Bar 'n Q | |
| 35 | Smokin Timber | |
| 36 | UNCLE BO'S BBQ | |
| 37 | BULLETS AND BUTTS | |
| 38 | Sunshine | |
| 39 | Rat Roasters |
Pork
39 entries · top 176.5716 · median 162.8570
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | QSS SMOKIN | |
| 2 | VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY | |
| 3 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 4 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | |
| 5 | WHISKEY PIT BBQ COMPANY | |
| 6 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 7 | S&S BBQ | |
| 8 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 9 | SLABS OF APPROVAL | |
| 10 | TEAM GETTING SAUCED | |
| 11 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 12 | PELLET ENVY | |
| 13 | LEEPS BBQ | |
| 14 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 15 | KC Q | |
| 16 | MEL'S BBQ | |
| 17 | STICKS-N-CHICKS BBQ | |
| 18 | Highline BBQ | |
| 19 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 20 | IOWA WILD HOGS BBQ | |
| 21 | BBEEQ | |
| 22 | BULLETS AND BUTTS | |
| 23 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 24 | BURNIN' DOWN THE HOG | |
| 25 | KUSTOM Q | |
| 26 | BLUE COLLAR SMOKERS | |
| 27 | T'S SMOKIN PIT | |
| 28 | YELLOW DOG BBQ AND SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 29 | Red Eye BBQ | |
| 30 | Sunshine | |
| 31 | Weirich Custom BBQ | |
| 32 | Smokin Timber | |
| 33 | Grandpa Smokeys | |
| 34 | River Rats BBQ'ers | |
| 35 | BUCKY'S BADASS BBQ | |
| 36 | UNCLE BO'S BBQ | |
| 37 | Grillin Buddies | |
| 38 | Rat Roasters | |
| 39 | Norty's Bar 'n Q |
Brisket
39 entries · top 174.2856 · median 161.1428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weirich Custom BBQ | |
| 2 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 3 | BUCKY'S BADASS BBQ | |
| 4 | Highline BBQ | |
| 5 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 6 | QSS SMOKIN | |
| 7 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 8 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 9 | WHISKEY PIT BBQ COMPANY | |
| 10 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | |
| 11 | PELLET ENVY | |
| 12 | KC Q | |
| 13 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 14 | S&S BBQ | |
| 15 | IOWA WILD HOGS BBQ | |
| 16 | LEEPS BBQ | |
| 17 | Sunshine | |
| 18 | VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY | |
| 19 | Grandpa Smokeys | |
| 20 | TEAM GETTING SAUCED | |
| 21 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 22 | T'S SMOKIN PIT | |
| 23 | YELLOW DOG BBQ AND SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 24 | WABASH BBQ | |
| 25 | BBEEQ | |
| 26 | BLUE COLLAR SMOKERS | |
| 27 | Red Eye BBQ | |
| 28 | STICKS-N-CHICKS BBQ | |
| 29 | SLABS OF APPROVAL | |
| 30 | Grillin Buddies | |
| 31 | BULLETS AND BUTTS | |
| 32 | Smokin Timber | |
| 33 | UNCLE BO'S BBQ | |
| 34 | Rat Roasters | |
| 35 | KUSTOM Q | |
| 36 | River Rats BBQ'ers | |
| 37 | BURNIN' DOWN THE HOG | |
| 38 | MEL'S BBQ | |
| 39 | Norty's Bar 'n Q |