A statement win
18.2856
points clear of the field
Wider than 98% of the 4,714 championships in the data
The champion won by 18.2856 points — a wider margin than 98% of championships in the data.
Smokin' In The Junction 2013
May 25–26, 2013 · West Des Moines, IA
TRUEBUD BBQ won Grand Champion at the Smokin' In The Junction on May 25, 2013 in West Des Moines, IA, scoring 705.1430 in a field of 36 teams. MEADOW VALLEY BBQ CO. took Reserve Grand Champion with 686.8574. Category winners: Chicken — BOONDOGGLE BBQ (178.2858); Pork Ribs — 4 MILE SMOKIN' CREW (176.0002); Pork — TRUEBUD BBQ (178.8572); Brisket — TRUEBUD BBQ (176.5714). 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.
596.57
median 655.71
705.14 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 178.29
- Pork Ribs 176.00
- Pork 178.86
- Brisket 176.57
140.57
178.86
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2015 — this edition picked out.
Entries
36
4 judged meats
Top score
705.1430
Winning margin
18.2856
GC over RC
Field average
655.52
596.57705.14
median 655.71 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
2.2858 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
671.9996
596.57705.14
10th place overall
Field spread
108.5720
winner to last place
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 13%
beats 87% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.64 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,520
avg power rating going in · stronger than 13% of contests
Storylines (5 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 dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 3 tracked editions
TRUEBUD BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 3 tracked editions.
- 2013
- 2014
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 8 calls decided inside half a point
Pork Ribs places 4–5: OMAHA'S BLOWIN' SMOKE and TRUEBUD BBQ tied on 173.7144 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 4–5: MYASSIS SMOKIN and TEMPLETON RYE WOODFELLAS tied on 173.1428 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 6–7: 3-31-BBQ and 4 MILE SMOKIN' CREW tied on 171.4286 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Pork Ribs 4–5 · tie
- Pork 4–5 · tie
- Pork 6–7 · tie
- Pork 9–10 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
TRUEBUD BBQ won Pork, Brisket — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 1st
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
TRUEBUD BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was pork ribs at 5th.
- Chicken 2nd
- Pork Ribs 5th
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 1st
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 25, 2013 ← this one | West Des Moines, IA | West Des Moines, IA | 36 | 705.1430 | TRUEBUD BBQ | MEADOW VALLEY BBQ CO. |
| May 24, 2014 | West Des Moines, IA | West Des Moines, IA 50265 | 31 | 705.1544 | TRUEBUD BBQ | TEMPLETON RYE WOODFELLAS |
| May 23, 2015 | West Des Moines, IA | West Des Moines, IA 50265 | 37 | 688.5256 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | TRUEBUD BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 178.2858 | 171.9998 | 168.5714 |
| Pork Ribs | 176.0002 | 173.7144 | 171.4286 |
| Pork | 178.8572 | 173.1428 | 170.2858 |
| Brisket | 176.5714 | 172 | 168.5714 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
36 entries · top 705.1430 · median 655.7140
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TRUEBUD BBQ | |
| 2 | MEADOW VALLEY BBQ CO. | |
| 3 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 4 | 4 MILE SMOKIN' CREW | |
| 5 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 6 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 7 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 8 | TEMPLETON RYE WOODFELLAS | |
| 9 | SMOKEY D'S WANNABEES | |
| 10 | MAUS-Q-TEERS | |
| 11 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 12 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 13 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | |
| 14 | MYASSIS SMOKIN | |
| 15 | SWINE ASSASSINS | |
| 16 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 17 | SPITFIRE | |
| 18 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 19 | BONE COLLECTOR BBQ & CATERING | |
| 20 | OMAHA'S BLOWIN' SMOKE | |
| 21 | E & D'S BBQ | |
| 22 | BOONDOGGLE BBQ | |
| 23 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 24 | THE WICKED PIG | |
| 25 | JARHEAD-Q | |
| 26 | WILD SHOOTERS BBQ | |
| 27 | DIG-IN COOKERS | |
| 28 | IOWA STATE GRILL TEAM | |
| 29 | Spanky and the Meat Mafi | |
| 30 | 2 SHAY BBQ | |
| 31 | Smokin' Chicken Barbecue | |
| 32 | Goodsmiths | |
| 33 | 3-31-BBQ | |
| 34 | Woo Hoo BBQ | |
| 35 | BUBBA'S BURNT ENDS | |
| 36 | KING OF THE GRILL |
Chicken
36 entries · top 178.2858 · median 165.1429
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BOONDOGGLE BBQ | |
| 2 | TRUEBUD BBQ | |
| 3 | MEADOW VALLEY BBQ CO. | |
| 4 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 5 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 6 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 7 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 8 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 9 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 10 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | |
| 11 | WILD SHOOTERS BBQ | |
| 12 | 2 SHAY BBQ | |
| 13 | MAUS-Q-TEERS | |
| 14 | THE WICKED PIG | |
| 15 | MYASSIS SMOKIN | |
| 16 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 17 | SWINE ASSASSINS | |
| 18 | E & D'S BBQ | |
| 19 | BONE COLLECTOR BBQ & CATERING | |
| 20 | SMOKEY D'S WANNABEES | |
| 21 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 22 | Smokin' Chicken Barbecue | |
| 23 | OMAHA'S BLOWIN' SMOKE | |
| 24 | IOWA STATE GRILL TEAM | |
| 25 | JARHEAD-Q | |
| 26 | 4 MILE SMOKIN' CREW | |
| 27 | DIG-IN COOKERS | |
| 28 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 29 | Woo Hoo BBQ | |
| 30 | SPITFIRE | |
| 31 | TEMPLETON RYE WOODFELLAS | |
| 32 | Spanky and the Meat Mafi | |
| 33 | KING OF THE GRILL | |
| 34 | 3-31-BBQ | |
| 35 | Goodsmiths | |
| 36 | BUBBA'S BURNT ENDS |
Pork Ribs
36 entries · top 176.0002 · median 165.1426
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 MILE SMOKIN' CREW | |
| 2 | SMOKEY D'S WANNABEES | |
| 3 | TEMPLETON RYE WOODFELLAS | |
| 4 | OMAHA'S BLOWIN' SMOKE | |
| 5 | TRUEBUD BBQ | |
| 6 | MEADOW VALLEY BBQ CO. | |
| 7 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 8 | SWINE ASSASSINS | |
| 9 | SPITFIRE | |
| 10 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 11 | MYASSIS SMOKIN | |
| 12 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 13 | BONE COLLECTOR BBQ & CATERING | |
| 14 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 15 | MAUS-Q-TEERS | |
| 16 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 17 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 18 | E & D'S BBQ | |
| 19 | IOWA STATE GRILL TEAM | |
| 20 | BOONDOGGLE BBQ | |
| 21 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 22 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | |
| 23 | Goodsmiths | |
| 24 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 25 | Spanky and the Meat Mafi | |
| 26 | Smokin' Chicken Barbecue | |
| 27 | JARHEAD-Q | |
| 28 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 29 | WILD SHOOTERS BBQ | |
| 30 | BUBBA'S BURNT ENDS | |
| 31 | DIG-IN COOKERS | |
| 32 | 3-31-BBQ | |
| 33 | THE WICKED PIG | |
| 34 | 2 SHAY BBQ | |
| 35 | Woo Hoo BBQ | |
| 36 | KING OF THE GRILL |
Pork
36 entries · top 178.8572 · median 167.1428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TRUEBUD BBQ | |
| 2 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 3 | WILD SHOOTERS BBQ | |
| 4 | MYASSIS SMOKIN | |
| 5 | TEMPLETON RYE WOODFELLAS | |
| 6 | 3-31-BBQ | |
| 7 | 4 MILE SMOKIN' CREW | |
| 8 | IOWA STATE GRILL TEAM | |
| 9 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 10 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 11 | DIG-IN COOKERS | |
| 12 | MEADOW VALLEY BBQ CO. | |
| 13 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 14 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 15 | MAUS-Q-TEERS | |
| 16 | SWINE ASSASSINS | |
| 17 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 18 | JARHEAD-Q | |
| 19 | Spanky and the Meat Mafi | |
| 20 | THE WICKED PIG | |
| 21 | Goodsmiths | |
| 22 | OMAHA'S BLOWIN' SMOKE | |
| 23 | SMOKEY D'S WANNABEES | |
| 24 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 25 | 2 SHAY BBQ | |
| 26 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | |
| 27 | Smokin' Chicken Barbecue | |
| 28 | BONE COLLECTOR BBQ & CATERING | |
| 29 | E & D'S BBQ | |
| 30 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 31 | SPITFIRE | |
| 32 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 33 | Woo Hoo BBQ | |
| 34 | BUBBA'S BURNT ENDS | |
| 35 | BOONDOGGLE BBQ | |
| 36 | KING OF THE GRILL |
Brisket
36 entries · top 176.5714 · median 162
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TRUEBUD BBQ | |
| 2 | LUCKY'S Q | |
| 3 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 4 | 4 MILE SMOKIN' CREW | |
| 5 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 6 | WOODWARD BARBEQUE | |
| 7 | MAUS-Q-TEERS | |
| 8 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKEY D'S WANNABEES | |
| 10 | MEADOW VALLEY BBQ CO. | |
| 11 | SPITFIRE | |
| 12 | DIRT ROAD BBQ | |
| 13 | TEMPLETON RYE WOODFELLAS | |
| 14 | SMOKERS PURGATORY | |
| 15 | THE WICKED PIG | |
| 16 | 2 SHAY BBQ | |
| 17 | DIG-IN COOKERS | |
| 18 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 19 | E & D'S BBQ | |
| 20 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 21 | Spanky and the Meat Mafi | |
| 22 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 23 | JARHEAD-Q | |
| 24 | Woo Hoo BBQ | |
| 25 | BOONDOGGLE BBQ | |
| 26 | BONE COLLECTOR BBQ & CATERING | |
| 27 | SWINE ASSASSINS | |
| 28 | MYASSIS SMOKIN | |
| 29 | KING OF THE GRILL | |
| 30 | OMAHA'S BLOWIN' SMOKE | |
| 31 | WILD SHOOTERS BBQ | |
| 32 | Goodsmiths | |
| 33 | IOWA STATE GRILL TEAM | |
| 34 | BUBBA'S BURNT ENDS | |
| 35 | 3-31-BBQ | |
| 36 | Smokin' Chicken Barbecue |